Meghan Markle is once again in the news after reports of her having difficulties obtaining house help at her home in Montecito. The claims have been brought to the fore as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are preparing for their life in the UK with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Some of the housekeepers reportedly were not willing to work for the couple, and reports state that Meghan’s interview demeanour was tough and sometimes awkward for prospective employees.
The reported staffing problems trace back to the couple’s departure from their royal duties and their new life in California in 2020. Their move received much international media attention, and their private life continued to be the focus of interest even after they left the UK. In the context of this, it was reported that the couple is seeing a lot of difficulty in finding a domestic helper.
The reports say that several housekeepers in the Montecito area rejected offers of working for Meghan and Harry. According to one account, Meghan was even personally involved in interviews with potential employees and some candidates were uncomfortable with how they were treated when she interviewed them. The report characterized her as “snobbish” and “rude” and apparently the rumors spread among household servants in the neighborhood.
She struggled with finding maids; a lot of the housekeepers in Montecito didn’t want to work for her,” one of the statements in the reports said. “She was interviewing people herself, and could be quite snobbish and rude. Word began to get around.” These are allegations and not facts about what Meghan did or didn’t do.
Included in the reports was a more dramatic account of the situation, that people in the area would joke that “all the maids in Montecito hated them.” The remarks are part of a larger issue about the couple’s relationship with some of their employees. But with sources unnamed it can be hard to independently substantiate the accounts, and perceptions of the personality of a public figure can not be a full reflection of the nature of their private workplace relationships.
Staff changes have also been discussed as a factor in the talk about the house and profession of Meghan and Harry. They reportedly lost several members of their extended staff during the previous year, four of which are said to have left in June. They also reported that their press secretary Kyle Boulia and UK press officer Charlie Gipson had quit their jobs before replacements were named. Recently, it was also rumored that another couple of people from the couple’s private team have left as well.
But employee turnover can be attributed to various reasons. People quit jobs for personal, professional or financial reasons and simply quitting doesn’t mean that there was a problem with an employer. Staffing arrangements can, of course, change as the working life of a couple has altered significantly over the last few years, and with roles, locations and projects shifting.
The new accusations have been gaining attention, however, because they are similar to previous allegations made about Meghan while she was a member of the British royal family. Accusations surfaced prior to Meghan and Harry being sidelined from their royal positions, of how the duchess was treating the staff in the palace. Meghan has denied charges of “bullying behaviour” brought against her by some palace aides.
The controversy grew to a serious level where investigation into the allegations was required to be made. But Meghan has denied the allegations, and the authorities’ details of investigation were not publicly released in a way that could be considered a resolution to the issue for the broader public. This puts the earlier controversy on the front burner for any new story that comes out, regarding Meghan’s relationship with staff or individuals around her.
The constant mention of these allegations has helped to create a complicated public persona of Meghan. Supporters have said that she has often been a target of unusually sharp scrutiny and that reputations can be damaged by stories based on anonymous accounts, but not allowing the person they are referencing an opportunity to respond to each individual allegation. However, critics have drawn attention to the frequency of news reports related to feuds between palace servants and other staff members as a reason for the continued interest in the issue.
It’s also of particular importance due to the ongoing relationship between Meghan and Harry and the UK. The couple’s move to America was a huge change for them as they left behind their senior royal statuses. Since then, they have had a busy time with their family, charitable work, media projects and public appearances. That they will now return to the UK with their children has thus set off new speculation on how their relationship will look like to the country.
The couple’s relocation has also reportedly caused discussion within communities that they’ve lived in. There have been reports that some residents have voiced concerns about the attention the couple could garner. One commenter went so far as to write, “The town is tired of them, the entitlement and the constant drama. There was also some concern about the amount of attention the family has received, as one comment read, “When we first heard that Harry and Meghan were moving to Montecito, there were definitely some concerns, as there has been so much negative press and attention surrounding them and the royal family, and I think people are worried about what kind of spotlight that could bring to such a quiet community.”
