Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is facing growing criticism as more high-level staffers abandon her newest venture, leading insiders to label her a “boss from hell.” According to sources close to the situation, both Meghan, 43, and her husband, Prince Harry, 40, have developed a reputation for being demanding and difficult to work for, putting their latest business efforts in jeopardy.
“The brutal truth is Meghan and Harry are the toughest of taskmasters,” an insider told In Touch exclusively. “They’re incredibly difficult to work for. The numbers don’t lie. To have almost 20 staffers quitting tells its own story. It’s unprecedented, even for a startup!”
The latest high-profile exit came when American Riviera Orchard’s Chief of Staff, Josh Kettler, abruptly resigned just days before he was set to join the Duke and Duchess on a Colombia tour in August. Kettler had only been with the couple for three months before calling it quits.
Meghan’s latest venture, a lifestyle brand, was unveiled with much fanfare six months ago. However, the enterprise is reportedly struggling to find stable leadership, as Meghan has yet to secure — and keep — a CEO. This ongoing issue is no surprise to royal insiders, who recall her troubled time in the palace.
“Meghan was accused of bullying during her brief time in the palace,” a royal courtier revealed. “She denied the allegations and called them a ‘calculated smear campaign.’ Queen Elizabeth ordered a formal investigation, but Meghan was never officially cleared, and Her Majesty decreed that the results of the probe would be kept secret.”
Meghan’s time as a working royal was short-lived, lasting less than two years after her 2018 marriage to Harry. During that period, she earned a reputation for being unapproachable and refusing to take advice from senior staff, which alienated many within the royal household.
“Nothing seems to have changed,” noted the courtier.
The ongoing struggle to retain employees has raised questions about Meghan and Harry’s leadership. “Are Meghan and Harry terrible at choosing employees, or is it a terrible work environment?” pondered another courtier. Former staff members have even dubbed themselves the “Sussex Survivors Club,” a group that includes senior royal aide Samantha Cohen, who stayed a year longer than intended due to difficulties finding a replacement.
As Meghan’s lifestyle brand flounders without a CEO, her ventures appear stalled. Despite filming a cooking and gardening show for Netflix, no release date has been announced, and her initial business efforts — like sending homemade strawberry jam and teasing a rosé wine — have seemingly gone nowhere.
According to a royal insider, “Everything has apparently come to a grinding halt,” and Meghan’s inability to listen to others is being pointed to as a major factor.