Buckingham Palace bullying investigation described as 'calculated smear campaign' against Meghan Markle has been 'buried'

Buckingham Palace launched a bullying investigation when the Duchess of Sussex was accused of bullying staff, this investigation has now reportedly been 'buried' and will not be released to the public. 

• The investigation was launched after allegations against Meghan Markle were publically published in March 2021.
• The Duchess of Sussex's spokesperson previously referred to this bullying rumor as a 'calculated smear campaign.'
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton and Prince William mirror seriously special wedding day moment at Ascot. 

Last year, it was reported that some members of staff accused Meghan Markle of bullying them. In March 2021, it was then revealed that Buckingham Palace had instructed 'outside lawyers to probe Meghan Markle bullying claims'

According to the Times, this investigation from the palace into the claims made by former employees has now been buried and the outcome will not be released.

The Times reported, "the findings from the highly sensitive inquiry, which was paid for privately by the Queen and conducted by an independent law firm, will never be published."

According to royal courtiers who spoke to the Times, this is to ensure that those who took part in the investigation feel 'comfortable' and so that the issue would 'not be played out in public.'

However, it has also been reported that some of the participants are disappointed that the results of this investigation are being 'buried' and they have not had the opportunity to learn about its outcome.

The investigation was looking at claims that were made when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were living in the UK before they stepped down as senior members of the Royal Family.

The first person to issue an official complaint was Jason Knauf in 2018 who, according to The Times, stated his concerns in a formal email. 

"I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year," said Jason. The former communications secretary for Prince Harry and Meghan then added, "the duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights [and] I remain concerned that nothing will be done.”

One former employee made claims that they were 'humiliated' and claimed two other members of staff had been bullied. Another aide said that their experience felt, "more like emotional cruelty and manipulation, which I guess could also be called bullying."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to say that this story is fictitious. A spokesperson for Sussexes spoke to The Sun in March 2021 when the story was first released to the public ahead of Meghan and Harry's Oprah interview.

"Let’s just call this what it is - a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson then claimed that this story was timed so that it was released as Prince Harry and Meghan spoke to Oprah in their tell-all interview. "It’s no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining The Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and The Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years," concluded the spokesperson.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment about the alleged 'burying' of this report.