Meghan and Harry 'deeply concerned' about damning article on duke's 40th birthday
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly "deeply concerned" about the timing of a savage US article about Meghan which coincided with the duke's 40th birthday celebrations.
The piece has emerged following the exit of numerous staff from the Sussex household, alleging that the duchess "belittles" and "terrifies" employees.
It also referred to her as "Duchess Difficult" and claimed she is resistant to advice. The Hollywood Reporter echoed these sentiments, describing her as someone who "marches around like a dictator in high heels, fuming and barking orders".
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However, with Prince Harry's 40th birthday, which he celebrated on Sunday (September 15), the couple are said to be troubled by the timing of such claims, the Express reports.
A source close to the Sussexes informed this publication: "The Sussex team have had more than enough of these types of articles, it's simply not true."
Expressing concern over the article's release which appeared to be timed at the same time as the duke's birthday, the Sussexes' are worried it might have stemmed from a disgruntled ex-employee spreading falsehoods to tarnish their image.
The insider continued: "The focus for Camp Sussex now is to build on the success of the last year and to take that positive momentum forward into 2025 and beyond."
There have been reports of a significant number of staff departures from the Sussex household in recent years, including their chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who resigned in August after only three months. In total, 18 employees have either resigned or been dismissed due to the pressures of their roles.
The Royal Family publicly wished Harry a happy birthday for the first time in three years yesterday on their social media channels. The Prince and Princess of Wales also extended an olive branch to mark the duke's birthday milestone on their own personal page, which came as a surprise to many.
It's not known whether or not the royals personally contacted Harry on his big day or just spoke out publicly. Although a source claims that the monarch had plans to skype his youngest son in the afternoon to catch him as soon as he wakes up in California, which is eight hours behind the UK.
Harry celebrated his 40th birthday privately in Montecito, where he lives with wife Meghan Markle and their two kids Archie and Lilibet. The duke is also believed to have organised a hiking trip in the nearby Californian mountains with a few close friends.
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