Another day, another—err, lots— of bombshell claims about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. On the heels of criticism about their reaction to the L.A. wildfires, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the subject of a Vanity Fair report about their life in California. With it, comes multiple claims about the pair, from mistreating employees to a divorce book.
1. Bombshell claims: Meghan ‘undermining’ U.S. employees
Perhaps the most shocking of the 8,000-word cover story’s bombshell claims had to do with the portrait it painted of Meghan at work. Specifically, her relationships with employees.
One source who worked in media projects described Meghan as “warm and effusive” to start. Later, however, they claimed she’d shift to “undermining,” exhibiting “Mean Girls teenager” behavior and becoming “cold and withholding.”
Journalist Anna Peele also cited two sources who claimed several staffers for Meghan’s “Archetypes” podcast took “extended breaks,” a leave of absence, or left altogether.
This bombshell claim is particularly noteworthy because previous claims of Meghan’s mistreatment of staff were contained to U.K. employees.
2. Bombshell claims: Harry’s fine with Meghan making all the money
An employee who interviewed to work for Harry told the outlet he didn’t seem excited about working. Questions the duke asked were, “Well, why should I do this?” or “Why are we doing this?” about launching a Spotify podcast of his own.
“He looks like the kind of guy who would, frankly, happily work for charities for the rest of his life,” the source said. “And would be very happy if Meghan made all the money and he didn’t need to.”
3. Bombshell claims: Harry and Meghan ‘didn’t do what celebrities do on podcasts’
An anonymous employee who worked with the couple on their Spotify deal—Harry, Meghan, and the streamer parted ways in 2023—claimed the duke and duchess did things differently.
“[They] didn’t do what celebrities do on podcasts, which is turn on the mic and talk,” they said. “They wanted a big theme that would explain the world. But they had no ideas.”
“The thing you’re escaping is the reason you’re compelling,” they added, in reference to Harry and Meghan leaving royal life in 2020.
4. Bombshell claims: a ‘post-divorce’ book from Meghan
Perhaps the most odd bombshell claim was this one—Meghan writing a book about divorcing Harry. Yes, Harry and not her ex-husband Trevor Engelson. While Harry and Meghan were described as having a “real” love, the cover story also included speculation about Meghan being approached to write a “post-divorce” book.
5. Bombshell claims: Harry and Meghan are ‘local villains’ in Montecito
Last but not least is how Harry and Meghan’s neighbors in Montecito, Calif., feel about the couple. “The prince and ‘the starlet,’ as the Montecitan calls her, have become local villains, according to several people who spoke with VF.”
Why? “They attribute the increase in housing prices to them as much as [Ellen] DeGeneres,” who flipped houses in the area for years. Other complaints included “out-of-towners coming in driving too fast, and taking up all the street parking” and not being able to “just walk into Lucky’s for dinner anymore.”
