Just before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Oprah interview aired in March, Kensington Palace was in full meltdown mode. In truth, all of the salty, fussy, awful people in all of the royal households were scared sh-tless of what Meghan and Harry would say, but clearly the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their aides were concerned that a lot of their behavior and would be called out, and they would have to answer for what they had said and done to the Sussexes. At that point, it was clear that KP had been briefing against Meghan in particular since the fall of 2018, but the story they put out in March of this year was so clearly part of an authorized and coordinated smear campaign ahead of the Oprah interview.
The story that came out? Meghan bullied staffers and made white women cry, and Jason Knauf was so “concerned” about Meghan’s bullying that he wrote an email about it to another palace aide. Magically, the Times of London got their hands on the email written by Jason Knauf. Just as the Mail got their hands on Knauf’s emails and texts in their appeal of Meghan’s lawsuit. Knauf is handing over selected communications to the media and very few people in the royal media establishment are actually asking the question: is Knauf being authorized to do so by William and Kate? The Times reporter Valentine Low was interviewed as part of The Princes and the Press and Low said no, Knauf’s email wasn’t leaked with William’s approval. Sure.
Allegations that the Duchess of Sussex had “bullied” two members of staff at Kensington Palace were “absolutely not” leaked with Prince William’s tacit approval, according to the journalist who reported them. The final part of a controversial BBC documentary on the relationship between Prince William, Prince Harry and the media examined allegations of a briefing war between the brothers.
The bullying claims, which the duchess has denied and which are the subject of an ongoing inquiry at Buckingham Palace, emerged just days before Harry and Meghan’s interview with talkshow host Oprah Winfrey.
The BBC presenter Amol Rajan asked the Times journalist Valentine Low if he believed the people who leaked the bullying allegations to him had been licensed to do so by the Duke of Cambridge. “Did you think that the people speaking to you had his tacit approval?” Rajan asked. “Absolutely not,” Low replied.
The Sussexes’ lawyer, Jenny Afia, told the documentary, The Princes and the Press, that the bullying story was untrue and had “massive, massive inaccuracies”. But, she said, it was difficult to refute. “‘It is really hard to prove a negative. If you haven’t bullied anyone, how do you show that you haven’t ?” she said.
She also defended the Sussexes against newspaper criticism that they demanded privacy, and fought for it through the courts, while at the same time speaking out to others. She said: “It’s not them who have said they want privacy. It’s something that the tabloids have said about them that’s latched on. They have taken steps when there have been blatant violations, unlawful violations of privacy, of course. Then they have challenged it. Because that’s in line with their values.”
But that did not mean they had to take a vow of silence, she said, adding that privacy was the right to choose what information they shared.
Where we are now: Jason Knauf leaked an email about “Meghan’s bullying” to the Times, and then months later, he gave a cache of selected communications between himself and Meghan to the Mail and the Mail’s lawyers, in the hopes of helping the Mail’s appeal of Meghan’s successful summary judgment. And we’re supposed to believe that Knauf, one of Prince William and Kate’s closest aides, their PR rainmaker, the man who put together Earthshot, did all of that without William and Kate’s authorization, complicity or approval? How stupid do they think we are? I get that William and Kate are incredibly stupid, but do they truly believe everyone else is too stupid to notice that their most trusted aide is doing all of these things? Of f–king course William and Kate authorized all of it.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar.
They really do think they are being so slick in their dealings. Knauf still has a job in spite of breaking his NDA. So it’s either the royals don’t care about NDAs and it should be open season on them in publications or Knauf has the full backing and support of his boss to malign and abuse his brother and sister in law. I’m gonna go with choice number two. William is behind this smear campaign.
The exceptionalism of the RF rides again. These are the monsters who are coached from birth to believe that they are infinitely more superior, talented and blessed than others – who are taught that magical thinking is real and valid. They are completely devoid of empathy, and cannot believe that anyone ‘lesser’ is capable of assessing, let alone judging their actions.
The royals have a history of not making their employees sign NDAs. I think it’s only household staff that has had to sign them in the past. Jason is office staff.
Hmmm..sounds like another word workaround – Non Disclosure Agreement or Confidentiality Agreement. (I realize there are some differences between the two though) From 2004:
“All royal staff up to Lord Chamberlain must sign the new strongly-worded personal agreements with the sovereign about confidentiality. Anyone breaching them is required to hand over any money earned from disclosures to charity.”
(then later)
“It is understood the new contracts are being rolled out among all royal staff, including those working for the Prince of Wales. They will be updated in three years so that the importance of confidentiality can be stressed again.”
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/jun/24/privacy.royalsandthemedia
This cannot be said enough. IF JK hadn’t had Cambridge approval, he would be out of a job. Period. Anyone who has ever had a job understands this.
Of course the Keens authorised it – NO WAY Knauf would have given those emails without permission from the Keens AND Royal HR as to do so would be in direct breach of his NDA with the household.
William was being dragged on UK twitter over the 2nd op of the Princes and the Press – it was not pretty, people see him for what he is. And Kate too. Given how the public is turning against the Keens, at some point the media is going to spill all the tea – when its in their interests to do so.
Good, I hope it all comes out. Karma Comes for the Cambridges is the holiday movie I can’t wait to see.
Just Kate. William will be protected at all costs. William has also laid the groundwork for the divorce (post-Queen’s death of course)
I wonder if she realizes that – she has to, right? She has to understand that William is not going to take the fall for any of this, she will. She has to see that the very system that she thinks empowers her is all based on empowering and protecting William – she is only empowered/protected/embiggened bc William says so (or bc he doesn’t care enough to say “no.”) But if he ever decides he is done with her, she’s going to take the fall for *waves hands* all this.
William has thrown everything he has at the Sussex’s…..and they still STAND. Now his reputation is in the garbage so he begins to distance himself from all that he and he alone started. Cry Baldy….. CRY
If your employees are leaking information to the press without your approval, then you frikkin do something about it. If you don’t, then you’re responsible.
Yep. There should be legal and/or financial penalties for violating an NDA. If they didn’t give permission and don’t act, does that set precedent for other employees?
Even if there’s no NDA. Ok, for the first leak, maybe you didn’t know about it, but you know it came from your employee. The buck stops with you, so you should make sure that doesn’t happen again. If it does happen again, as it did in this case, then you are either complicit or an idiot – but still responsible.
And that look on Keen’s face as she toasts Knauff with the worms, is not the look of an employer, aghast that it was disclosed the staff member beside her leaked company documents to aid a court case against the plaintif, her sister in law. In fact, she looks quite comfortable around him, I dare say she endorsed it.
@Royalblue Exactly. Those photos of Buttons grinning like an idiot with Knauf are going to bite her in the ass later most likely when the press and the firm turn on her.
+1
Low just outed himself. The only way you could bold-faced lie like that is if you are writing at the behest of Bill and Cathy. Which is the overall point of this documentary. The “royal press” aren’t journalists – they are mouthpieces for their principals – not journalist. They traffic in lies and spin not facts.
The way Low smiled when he said it was done without the Cambridges knowledge really made me question his truthfulness. He looked like he thought he was getting away with something.
This. Much like when another aide’s boyfriend was selling inside information about the Sussexes, if the Cambridges don’t take action against the offenders then they are accepting responsibility. That’s what tacit approval means.
Yep. Callum Stephens (boyfriend of Christian Jones) was paid by Dan Wootton for Sussex info. Jones was hired in 2018 as Deputy Communications Secretary for the Cambridges & Sussexes. After all the shenanigans, he was promoted to the Cambridges private secretary in March 2020 (after Simon Case left). January 2021 he left to become a partner in a private equity firm. Playing dirty for the W & K earns you a promotion.
Agreed. Upon discovering his employee went against his claim, to not leak, Jason remains employed and still briefing against Meghan Markle. Either William granted permission or he’s an incompetent boss, which his employees don’t respect. Why has Jason Knauf not been fired? Should be the follow up question, from reporters.
Exactly. One thing you DON’T do is PROMOTE THEM.
This just reeks of a reward for being the hatchet man rather than a reproval and job termination.
Okay, so Jason went rogue. Sure. Quick question, is he still working for the Cambridge’s foundation and still appearing at events with them? Yes. Has he been fired for releasing confidential communications? No.
For a household so quick to pursue years old rumours of Meghan “bullying”, and threaten legal action against any unflattering stories in the media, isn’t it strange that they just seem to be cool with Jason sticking around? Huh.
Its even worse. Jason handed over his very carefully selected emails to the MoS last june or july right? So he actively (and quite publicly) works against meghan while still in the employment of the gruesome twosome.
As for bullying, I don’t believe Meghan bullied anyone but she might be clash with her staff over cultural differences. even though both countries speak English, there are a lot of differences. Brf is dim and slow and whatever they do they look for what they have done in the previous decade as references.
The KP staff didn’t want to work for Meghan. It’s why she had to go outside to get things done.
The thing is there have been no official complaints regarding her allegedly bullying people. Just Jason sent an email claiming other people (not even himself) were bullied by her. Based on this secondhand unofficial claim, the news media has treated it like Meghan has been sued for a crime, which is nowhere near reality.
I am hugely sympathetic to employees in toxic / hostile work environments in which the burden falls so much on the victim to move mountains for any modicum or scrap of justice, usually DESPITE an incompetent or complicit HR department and administration. I’ve been there. It’s a nightmare.
But in this case there is no actual complaint. So without any official complaint we have nothing but gossip. Additionally we have the factor of misogynoir in the royal household which has been working to oppress and exclude Meghan from the start, including to the point of ignoring her when she reported suicidal ideation and refusing her therapy or treatment to literally save her life. When she was pregnant on top of everything. And the gossiper works for people we know are hostile to Meghan. Soooo contextually it just doesn’t pan out. They’re accusing her of bullying, trying to flip the script, projecting. Because in reality they bullied HER.
When Meghan and Harry left KP and moved their office to Buckingham Palace and were able to pick their own staff, there were no problems. When they left England for good, there were news articles about how sad their BP staff were to see them go and how some were even hoping for a way to go to the US with them. The bullying stories are nonsense. The KP staff were LAZY and didn’t want to work for the biracial duchess.
It makes me irrational levels of angry that CB commenters get this, and yet….Willnot and Cannot are protected. Honestly, who really wants to prop up these two fools??? The answer is apparently British taxpayers.
Wasn’t Low the one who said that he knew about Meghan’s request for mental health assistance but felt he couldn’t get away with printing the knowledge due to the UK privacy laws? He knows that it was open season on Meghan and that permission had to come from the top down. And not just from William either, I think they all wanted to be rid of Meghan.
Yes he is. I wonder who told him about that?
Quoting Zara “Noone likes meghan”, pretty much sums it up, on the royal welfare recipients.
When did Zara say this? She definitely comes across as a mean girl too
If I had a son like William (God forbid!) and he did this to his sibling, I would go naked in the night and curse him! I’m African…this sort of betrayal hits different for us. Pure Cain and Abel situation right here. This kind of person would hold a pillow over his brother’s head if he had the opportunity. What sort of evil is this? This one came out of Diana’s womb? Ha!
PS: I don’t even want to talk about his wife…that one is another shade of evil but she’s not the one related to Harry by blood…at the end of the day though, William and Kate will reap the evil they have sown. I believe in karmic justice! Their end will be bad!
Well said!
Let it be so!! There’s no way you can be this wicked openly and it not come back to you. May the traps they set for Harry and Meghan boomerang back to them.
Applause, Bubs!
I am a huge believer in Karmic justice and it’s coming for the Cambs for sure. The media tide is gradually turning against them — so far it’s just innuendo and subtle shade — but the amount of legitimate and damaging information they have on the Dolittles must be legion, not to mention the boxes full of emails, copies of correspondence, even saved voice-mails that Meghan and Harry have would be enough to sink them. And yet they still keep shooting themselves in the foot. Keep shooting Lamebridges, Karma’s just around the corner!
@Bubs….BRAVO…and thank you for stating what I have ALWAYS thought regarding this HORRIFIC situation!
Both of them are really abhorrent. I felt no pity for Khate once she took advantage of a dead woman for PR. Both of them deserve each other.
does anyone have a link? I cant watch it in my country.
William didn’t give “tacit approval.” He gave “explicit” approval! These are word games. You don’t even need to read between the lines. It’s right in front of you, written in black and white.
Good point.
So true! They can’t deny it, so they use different words to hide behind. It’s been an ongoing thing for years now.
That jumped out at me, too. As usual, they’re dancing around the truth.
You nailed it!
+1000 I think you are totally spot on about that.
If Knauf didn’t have William’s approval, then he had Kate’s. That is how William throws her under the bus in the upcoming Great Divorce.
No way Kate the great has the agency to blatantly do this. He controls the strings.
More like William gave the Rota/Knauf approval to check in with Kate if he wasn’t around. No way a negative story on Meghan needed to be held up because Knauf couldn’t get in touch with William. Just check with Kate and she’ll give you the okay.
Kate, Carole, Uncle Gary – they all have plenty of strings they’ve been pulling for twenty years. Carole has deep connections at the Fail, don’t forget. None of them is innocent here, nor are they victims.
@Harper you might be on to something. I recall that in the flurry of KP attacks right before the Oprah interview aired, there was a vibe of William trying to protect himself and himself alone. Almost like he was trying to lie and imply he wasn’t the cause of any issues, but maybe look at his wife.
@Ennie, Kate and her mama have spent so much time this past year embiggening her and talking about how powerful she is, Top CEO, etc. They have worked to create a narrative that could absolutely bite them in the butt if Willileaks decides to make her the scapegoat in this.
William is fine with this of course, but what if it was Kate dealing directly with Jason about this. After all she has how many meetings with Jason in her CC count. Maybe kate was the one who gave permission for Knauf to leak, which makes Valentine Low saying a truthful statement technically but not in spirit.
Oh my, I hadn’t considered this angle. William is a jerk and an idiot and it’s clear he can’t stand his wife, you might be onto something
Could be as simple as she was in it from the beginning (not giving GF Meghan a ride in her limo when they were both going to the High Street Stores)….
Could be that William wanted Kate’s hands to be as dirty as his so as to shovel more blame into her corner….
Could be they’re BOTH racist, stupid twats that can’t find their own arses with a flashlight….
These two aren’t the kind that can walk, talk, and chew gum all at once.
These people don’t act rogue. Here in Britain that’s not really how people operate. They have to take their approval from someone. Also this guy trying to deny in the tabloids that he didn’t means he definitely did
The Middletons have put big, fat, obvious, sticky fingerprints all over their PR machinations. And the trail of breadcrumbs will be followed by someone eventually. Those DailyFail connections will cement any story throwing Kate under the bus. The Midds have stupidly played themselves. They’re not victims but they’ll be scapegoats. Will has very carefully let them set themselves up.
My only question is if Kate will turn on Mummy and the family once it all hits the fan and she’s covered in shit. I suspect we might get some “poor Kate was manipulated by Mummy and lived in a dysfunctional family and isn’t to blame. It was all her parents’ fault”
Yesterday’s comments on the jealous Kate article show that people are already disposed to believe the worst of the Middletons. Kate could take advantage. Would it work? IDK.
This could explain the cooling off between Kate and Pippa if Pippa was in on it with CarolE and Kate. CarolE is never going to abandon Kate, but Pippa might have regretted participating once it backfired in H&M’s departure and has since distanced herself.
Also, according to the episode last night from the BBC, when Tatler amended their article to take out the offensive paragraphs on CarolE, it was supposed to have been kept quiet. But, Kate’s team leaked that Tatler backed down, and Tatler’s team was mad. More proof that Kate’s team leaks.
weren’t they all just hanging out together in a bar like a week ago at that bug party
Yeah, Knauf is not doing anything without the approval of William and Kate. If he had he would have been fired in March.
If Knauf did not have anyone’s approval, then he would have been fired immediately. Maybe, MAYBE, an argument could be made that firing him would have looked bad (like the palace was “punishing” him for telling the “truth” about Meghan, I’m just thinking of a tabloid spin here people, everyone knows I don’t think M is a bully so don’t @me lol), and so then we had the announcement in May – two months later – that he was stepping down for a completely non-related reason. (but that was of course related.) PR-wise, that would make more sense.
But that story doesn’t fly bc if Knauf was “stepping down” (i.e. fired) for releasing the info to the Times, then he would not have felt so emboldened as to release MORE emails and texts in the summer to the MoS’s lawyers. And he would have been leaving much sooner than “the end of the year.”
And there is no way, NO WAY, in my opinion, that the Times would have run that story if it was not approved by KP, especially since they printed emails (right? they actually ran some of Knauf’s emails or excerpts from them?)
My guess is that Low and the Times have enough of a relationship with William/KP to know when there is approval and when there’s not, without any words being said. Low was just covering for William in the documentary.
It’s almost 2 years since Harry and Meghan left/were force out, and Cain is still trying his hardest to destroy then, if only he would put this effort into supporting his Charities they would be more successful.
As for Unable, she can copy Meghan all she wants, but that classroom visit was hilarious, bored, unimpressed children, there is a picture of her looking as bored as them, children can drive you up a wall, she even lost her fake accent.
Honestly, credulity is being stretched beyond breaking point here. Low wants us to believe that Knauf, a courtier, leaked “information” about H&M but didn’t tell his current employers AND was not fired. Not once but TWICE and still has a job. Even if the information was true (which 100% believe that is not) he still would be breaking confidence of his employers. The only way Bill and Cathy, his bosses, would keep him on the job is if they agreed with what he did. There is no getting around that.
Yes, they either think the citizenry is stupid, or they’re counting on national apathy. Maybe both.
If I had disclosed confidential work discussions, backed up with work emails, texts and a briefing note publicly to an outside organization my UK employer would have immediately suspended me on gross misconduct. There would be a hearing but I would be sacked if found guilty. Deafening silence around JK tells me he can act with impunity because it is not leaking but briefing when authorised by his boss. I hope Court of Appeals rejects MoS case but if it does go to trial then JK will be properly grilled about authorizations. Once again Basher Will hasn’t thought this through, has he?
Two crucial missing words: “this time”.
I don’t believe that qualification, but it’s the necessary implication.
William and Kate have to be the dumbest couple ever. They’ve now backed themselves into a humiliating corner. William can’t claim he didn’t authorize leaks, and still keep Jason Knauf employed. This man should’ve been removed from employment as soon as it was discovered, he was leaking personal information.
This only mentions the Duke… not the Duchess. Kate, you in danger girl.
This is emphasis on *William* didn’t do it will flip to *Kate* did it once TQ dies. Kate will be blamed for Sussexit and the rift between the brothers, thrown under the bus, and Will make big overtures to Harry to repair their relationship now that his (Will’s) meddling wife is gone.
Stock up on popcorn.
I wouldn’t worry about Kate, I’m sure Carole was crafty enough to secure some receipts to protect her.
But let the cards fall where they may..
Short of having proof that Willileaks did something criminal or has an outside baby hidden somewhere, I can’t imagine any level of receipts that will save the Keen One if Willileaks decides to go all out and make her and her family the villains. And I suspect Charles would be quite happy to assist in that.
Even an outside baby wouldn’t be that difficult to spin. He was desperate to get away from the Manipulative Middletons, etc.
Good catch. I also do not believe it’s a coincidence that it was loudly proclaimed that WILLIAM did not give permission. The omission of Kate’s name here signifies something. If dude will throw his own brother and father under the bus, you can be damn sure he holds no allegiance to a wife that he doesn’t even like.
ETA that if your predictions come true, I sincerely hope H+M hold William at arms’ length forever more…post-Kate overtures be damned. That man is never to be trusted. He has proven this time and again.
That’s always been my take, that Kate will be thrown under the bus. Its already starting with the “copying Meghan” stories. Already starting here in the US with the “jealous Kate” stories. Those never would have been so blatant before. Not saying Kate doesn’t deserve to get run over, I just think William should be under there too.
Yep… those stories are laying groundwork. It’s very subtly shifting narrative. Like this, I think the first stories were “The Cambridges didn’t authorize” which is now “The Duke didn’t authorize.”
Next will be, “Someone authorized for Will while he was unavailable” then “It was the Duchess who authorized…Will is incandescent with rage.”
Very similar shifting is happening with Kate. First, “The Duchess is copying Meghan’s style” now, “The Duchess is copying Meghan because she’s jealous and obsessed.” Soon, it will be “Jealous and obsessed Kate lied about Meg crying story…is behind smear campaign.”
I’m telling you, it’s in the works.
Agree with you both, @MsIAm and Rapunzel. I think Kate is going to be blamed for Sussexit – its clear someone is going to be blamed, there’s going to be more and more that comes out* until it gets to the point where someone will HAVE to be blamed, and it will be Kate and William will use that as the excuse to divorce her. “I had no idea she was doing this behind the scenes!!! She drove my brother out of the country! How can I stay married to her, knowing that?!!?”
*and that’s what I don’t get about Jason Knauf and the MoS. What the hell did KP think was going to happen? Of course Meghan’s lawyers were going to demand that the entirety of the emails be released, and if those emails do anything, they’re going to create disputed issues, so the case will get kicked back down to trial….and then what? What was KP’s next big move? Now this is in trial, and they thought the SJ hearings were messy?!?!? Think about everything that could come out in a trial, especially now that MoS has opened the doors to all these emails and texts being part of it. Good lord. That’s how we know William’s hands were all over it – he is so dumb he did not think this through.
Something tells me KP knows Meghan will win the appeal and Jason will get smacked by the judges for brining in irrelevant information to damage Meghan. Jason is being set up to be thrown under the double decker bus because the Cambridges have been condemned in the court of public opinion.
Oh he will get his reward. As we have a saying in my country, he got shade from a good tree. He is such a snake (poor snakes), he cozied up to the future future king, sold his soul to baldemort just as that rat servant who lost his hand. He thinks he will get his reward in the future and is bidding his time. Bit sad that everyone knows what they are up to. H and M deserve all the happiness and success they can get.
So Jason leaks but it doesn’t bother will and Kate that their trusted employee is untrustworthy. Okay. I completely understand. I mean this makes complete sense. Why would anyone want to hire and keep people working for them who they can’t absolutely trust ? Try again will and Kate. Your shit is smelling from over the pond and far far away.
If they didn’t authorize it, why hasn’t he been fired? Come on.
Mark my words, once Jason *officially* leaves the job at the end of December he will continue to do William’s dirty work in a clandestine, *unofficial* capacity. He’s not going to give up his position as poop-scooper to the FFK. He likely has a ton of dirt on William anyway and could turn on him on a dime if he felt threatened.
Actually he’ll just be authorized to provide more information behind the scenes. The first part of this documentary it was noted that many of the sources are former employees.
It’s official. Will and Kate are Idiots. Not only is Jason Knauf still employed, he was promoted for the smears against Meghan. None of these people are credible. Bulliam is being dragged everywhere.
The tide is turning. There’s a distinct shift in the narrative. Who knew it would be the BBC that would grow a pair and start the ball rolling? Watching and waiting with popcorn for the rest of the clowns to spill on Dumb and Dumber. It will be glorious!
My biggest revelation from the 2 part documentary is that Jason’s name is pronounced K-nauf and not a silent K.
Isn’t the point of having any kind of smear campaign is for this not to be traced back to you in any way?? I mean, this traces right back to them and everyone knows-they are so bad at this
Valentin Low received a letter from the Sussex lawyers about that bullying claim. They asked KP for a breakdown of the allegations. I think they’re still waiting. JK will take the hit, and his departure will be linked to the failed allegations, even though we know he leaves as planned at the end of the year.
When was Valentine Low interviewed? Was it before or after the Daily Mail’s appeal was heard earlier this month??
Because there was STILL some space for plausible deniability earlier in the summer, but that all went out of the window when Knauf gave emails voluntarily to aid the Daily Mail’s case.
As it stands, regardless of the outcome, Knauf is going to be the fall guy and the UK Press is setting the stage now.
Because yes, it is a HUGE problem that a palace staffer is ON THE RECORD leaking to the UK press. And he’s supposedly doing this unsanctioned???
That’s not a good look.
Any links to the BBC’s documentary for us Americans? Apparently you can view from the BBC page if you’re in the US. And yes, of course Knauf had tacit approval. In PR you don’t just put out messaging without a purpose and approval from your boss.
Times journalist Valentine Low is a liar. Very good there was Meghan’s lawyer J.Afia who defended her to protect her against the attack and the lie perpetuated by all these wicked people.
I have not seen the documentary yet but l do know that the BBC team behind it were busy editing it right up to the last minute it was aired, so that they did not risk being sued. This suggests that they have a lot more information that they could not risk putting out. But as we know the truth always comes out. The senior royals, ‘never complain never explain’ were really worried about this one, and will continue to be so because they know that there are people out there with information waiting to spill the beans, it is just a matter of time. But we are patient and will wait for it to happen.