Meghan Markle’s former royal aide, Samantha Cohen, has finally confirmed she was one of 10 royal staffers to be interviewed in Buckingham Palace’s investigation into bullying accusations leveled against the Duchess of Sussex.
Cohen worked for the royal family since 2001 and was Markle’s private secretary in 2021 when the first complaint was made that the former “Suits” star created a hostile work environment.
Although she would not elaborate in an interview with the Australian newspaper the Herald Sun, Cohen, an Aussie, told the outlet Monday, “I was only supposed to stay for six months but stayed for 18 — we couldn’t find a replacement for me and when we did, we took them on tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ropes but they left (quit) as well while in Africa.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss as she presents his polo team with the trophy for winning the Royal Salute Polo Challenge to Benefit Sentebale on April 12.
The Post has contacted reps for Markle and Buckingham Palace for comment.
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The allegations came just days before Markle and Prince Harry sat down for their bombshell tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey — in which the American Orchard Riviera founder claimed life in the royal family was “almost unsurvivable.”
Samantha Cohen (assistant Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II) attends the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
The HR review was privately funded by Queen Elizabeth II and carried out by an independent investigator in March 2021 after two royal staffers alleged they’d been bullied while working for her.
Markle’s legal team denied any allegations of bullying — calling them a “calculated smear campaign.” Allegations included Markle making her assistants cry and treating others so badly that they quit.
The investigation concluded in June 2022, and while a senior royal aide claimed the findings resulted in changes, they also said the findings won’t ever be made public.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sitting in chairs during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in a handout photo
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at Grand Champions Polo in Wellington, Fla., on April 12.
THOMAS CORDY/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK
“The review has been completed and recommendations on our policies and procedures have been taken forward,” Michael Stevens, the Queen’s treasurer, said during a briefing at the time. “But we will not be commenting further.”