Meghan Markle sends top-dog 'reputation lawyer' to address bullying reports in BBC royal documentary

Meghan Markle will be represented by Privacy and Reputation lawyer, Jenny Afia, in The Princes and The Press

Meghan Markle's reputation lawyer to address bullying reports in BBC documentary
(Image credit: Getty)

Meghan Markle has sent her ‘reputation lawyer’ to represent her in the BBC royal documentary, The Princes and The Press. 


The Duchess of Sussex has recruited US lawyer Jenny Afia to represent her in the new BBC royal documentary, in a bid to protect her public image from allegations of bullying.  

The Princes and The Press explores the complicated relationship between the British tabloids and the royal heirs, including their coverage of Prince Harry’s so-called ‘conflict’ with William and his controversial withdrawal from the Royal Family with Meghan Markle. Compiled from 80 hours of interviews, the highly-anticipated two-part series promises to tell the “definitive story of one of the most dramatic periods in royal history for a generation.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 in London, England

The Princes and The Press will discuss Prince Harry and Prince William's alleged feud 

(Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

It has already sparked backlash from the Royal Family, with the Queen, Charles, and William reportedly filing a complaint to Ofcom after the BBC denied them permission to view the documentary ahead of its premiere. 

On the other side of the Atlantic pond, Meghan Markle has also implemented measures to protect her reputation. The Duchess will be represented in The Princes and The Press by Jenny Afia, a renowned UK media lawyer who specializes in helping celebrities and their families protect their privacy rights. 

Having already won Meghan's privacy case against the Mail on Sunday in 2020, she’ll now appear on camera to respond to Buckingham Palace’s accusations of bullying against the former Suits star. 

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle has recruited a top dog lawyer 

(Image credit: NDZ/Star Max/GC Images/Getty)

When asked about the reports that the American royal was guilty of mistreating her staff, Afia said: “Those stories were false. This narrative that no-one could work for the Duchess of Sussex, that she was too difficult or demanding a boss, and that everyone had to leave, is just not true."

Meghan publicly thanked Afia earlier this year, acknowledging her "unrelenting support" in the process of suing the Mail on Sunday’s publishers. The Duchess took legal action against the British newspaper for copyright infringement, after it printed handwritten letters she had sent to her father in 2018. 

The second episode of The Princes and The Press will air at 9 pm on 29 November on BBC2. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.