Meghan Markle.Photo: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
An examination into the handling ofbullying allegationsmade againstMeghan Markle— a claim she has strongly refuted — has seen HR policies improved for royal staff, but the changes have not been made public.
The report’s findings will not be publicly disclosed, but recommendations have been incorporated into the policies and procedures at the palace, a senior palace aide said during a briefing on Wednesday.
All staffers and members of the royal family “will be aware of what the policies and procedures are,” a royal source said.
New implementations include encouraging staff to be whistleblowers if they have complaints about “inappropriate” practices or actions, while a “concern at work” policy sets out how staffers have the ability to express a concern or “blow the whistle” on others within the royal household.
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“It is not limiting in any way whatsoever — there is a procedure for how you would raise a concern,” the source said, adding that there are also opportunities to raise issues through independent counselors “if that’s appropriate.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Chris Jackson/Getty
A day later, thepalace announcedthere would be an examination into the claims.
Meghan Markle.Karwai Tang/WireImage
On Wednesday, a senior palace aide, Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse (a.k.a. the Queen’s accountant), said that the review, which was funded privately, was complete.
“This work was undertaken privately and had no [taxpayers'] Sovereign Grant money spent on it,” Stevens said during an annual briefing about the royal finances at Buckingham Palace. “I can confirm, though, that this was a review of the handling of the allegations aimed at enabling the royal households to consider potential improvements to HR policies and procedures.”
“The review has been completed and recommendations on our policies and procedures have been taken forward but we will not be commenting further,” he added.
“The review included a wide range of individuals,” a royal source said.
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In November, Meghan’s lawyer, Jenny Afia,addressed the bullying allegationsin the BBC’sThe Princes and the Pressdocumentary.
“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,” she said.
source: people.com
