Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's Former Chief Of Staff Reveals What It's Like Working For Couple
KEY POINTS
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's former chief of staff said she's had an "incredible experience" working for them
- Catherine St-Laurent said she believes they have the "potential to be very influential"
- She transitioned to serve as senior advisor to the couple's Archewell Foundation in April
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's former chief of staff is opening up about her experience working for the royal couple.
Catherine St-Laurent — who worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation before joining the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Archewell Foundation team in early 2020 — revealed during an interview with The Cut that she has had a great experience working with them and spoke of their ability to be "influential."
"It was an incredible experience," the 40-year-old communications advisor said. "They are incredibly talented and creative leaders. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to do that, to be able to be with them on their journey. The time that I spent with them was incredibly fulfilling."
St-Laurent is still working for Prince Harry and Markle. She transitioned to serve as a senior advisor to the couple's Archewell Foundation in April.
"I think they have the potential to be very influential leaders in the social-impact space. I look forward to continuing to be a part of that," she continued.
St-Laurent also praised the Sussexes when she announced her change in roles in March via a statement shared on LinkedIn.
"It's been a privilege working closely with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex helping to establish Archewell Foundation in its first year," she wrote. "Their commitment to compassion and wellbeing has been the undercurrent of all our activities both within the organization as well as with impactful projects of the foundation on the ground. I am deeply proud of what we've accomplished together and I'm honored to remain on as an advisor."
St-Laurent's interview came months after the Duchess of Sussex was hit with bullying allegations in March. The Times U.K. claimed in a report that Markle faced a bullying complaint from one of her close advisers when she was still in Kensington Palace.
Their former communications secretary Jason Knauf reportedly made the complaint in October 2018. The outlet claimed Markle drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined a third staff member's confidence.
Markle vehemently denied the accusations.
"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," a spokesperson for Markle said in a statement to multiple outlets in March. "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."
After the report was published, Buckingham Palace also put out a statement, saying its "HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned."
Meanwhile, royal historian Robert Lacey claimed in an updated version of his book "Battle of Brothers" that the tension between the royal brothers worsened after palace staffers allegedly complained about Markle.
When confronted by Prince William, Prince Harry allegedly got furious because his brother was more inclined to believe staffers than his family, Lacey claimed. The incident reportedly led Prince William to initiate the separation of his royal household from that of the Sussexes, according to the book.
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