Meghan Markle's Friends On Bullying Allegation: Done To ‘Undermine Her Character’

Meghan Markle's friends spoke about the allegation that she bullied some palace staffers. The Duchess of Sussex already denied the claim in a statement, and now her pals want to show their support to the royal.

Markle's pals came to her defense amid the allegation that she reduced staffers to tears when she was still at the Kensington Palace. They questioned the timing because it happened in the run-up to her and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey that is set to air on Sunday.

"You can’t ignore the timing of this," a source close to the couple told Harper's Bazaar. "This has been done to undermine her character or undermine the topics that they discuss on Sunday."

"They have had everything and the kitchen sink thrown at them this week, but ultimately nothing will stop them from sharing their truth," the friend added.

Another close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that they knew things would be ugly ahead of the airing of their interview with Winfrey.

"Harry and Meghan knew that it would get ugly in the run up [to the Oprah special], but seeing such an obvious attempt at destroying her character was distressing and upsetting," the Sussexes' pal told Harper's Bazaar.

One of Markle's friends, who has known her for 10 years, also backed her from the bullying allegation, saying that she is a considerate person to the people around her.

"I know that Meg would feel awful if she knew that someone felt that way about working with her, but I also know that no one ever approached her about anything like this at all during that time. I have never known her to be anything but kind and considerate to her friends and colleagues," the friend said.

Markle has already denied the bullying allegation. Her rep said she was saddened by the latest attack on her character especially because the duchess has been the target of bullying and is committed to helping those who experience the same trauma and pain.

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