Meghan Markle is vehemently denying bombshell accusations she mistreated staff and left them "humiliated" and "shaking with fear".
According to The Times, a complaint was filed by the couple's then communications secretary, alleging that several royal aides had been bullied by the Duchess of Sussex.
Jason Knauf - a New Zealander who previously worked as a communications adviser for Prime Minister Helen Clark - reportedly claimed that Meghan "drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member" in an email to Simon Case, the then-private secretary to Prince William.
A number of "serious concerns" about "unacceptable treatment" were allegedly raised in the complaint, said to be sent in October 2018. The Times reported Knauf was attempting to "protect staff who he claimed were coming under pressure from the Duchess".
The Times article went on to claim sources had come forward to report a furious row that took place between Meghan and one staffer who said they were left "feeling terrified" and "couldn't stop shaking" while anticipating a response from the Duchess.
Another source reportedly told the newspaper: "There were a lot of broken people. Young women were broken by their behaviour."
Meanwhile, another source claimed Harry and Meghan's private secretary, Samantha Cohen was "treated terribly" during her time working for the couple.
"Nothing was ever good enough," the source said.
A spokesperson for Meghan has dismissed the accusations as "a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation".
"The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma," the statement read.
"She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good."
The spokesperson said it was "no coincidence" that the shocking allegations had come out just days before Meghan and Harry's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey is set to drop.
"We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet," the statement continued, calling the accusations "distorted" and "several years old".
