'Sussex Survivors Club': Meghan Markle's aides labeled her 'narcissistic sociopath' over demanding behavior

Meghan Markle was plotting her royal exit from the outset, her former staff contended in a bombshell new book

PUBLISHED SEP 25, 2022

Markle was called a 'narcissistic sociopath' by staffers in a new tell-all book (Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND: A new book asserts that as the Duchess of Sussex meticulously planned her departure from the Royal Family, palace aides thought she was purposefully leaving a "trail of evidence." It claims that her staff, who took on the moniker "Sussex Survivors' Club" after Meghan and Harry resigned from their positions, referred to the Duchess as a "narcissistic sociopath."

Valentine Low's upcoming book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, contains shocking excerpts that were published by The Times on September 24. The book will be released by Headline Books on October 6, 2022. The Sussexes' deteriorating relationship with their staff, a "succession of... decent people" who had supported Meghan and "would have done anything" to make the couple successful, is detailed in the book. However, it claims that staff members began to think that Meghan's departure was planned and that "one of [her] concerns was whether she was going to be able to make money for herself."

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One former employee relayed to the author, "She wanted to be rejected because she was obsessed with that narrative from day one." And according to sources, her team allegedly repeatedly said of her, "We were played." The book alleges that staff members came to believe the Duchess intended to demonstrate how the institution had failed her and even believed she had a cynical reason for complaining to HR bosses, who listened sympathetically but provided no assistance. "This was inevitable: HR is there to deal with employee issues, not members of the Royal Family,’ the book says. ‘Meghan would presumably have known that, so what was she doing there? Laying a trail of evidence, would be the cynical answer."

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex after attending the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 3, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. — The new tell-all book details the alleged ugly behavior of Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, who quit their royal duties in 2020 (Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

'Everyone knew that the institution would be judged by her happiness,' a former employee told author Low, adding that they erred in believing she merely desired happiness.

Meghan emphasized the distinction between the Queen and those around her in her interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. She felt that these people shunned her in her time of need and spread "falsehoods" about her. However, the aides became so frustrated that they started to believe even her pleadings for help were part of a calculated plan to make it easier for her to leave. According to the book, "They believe she wanted to be able to say 'Look how they failed to support me.'"

Samantha Cohen, who served as the Sussexes' private secretary from their wedding in May 2018 until the end of their tour of South Africa in September 2019, and Sara Latham, who oversaw communications, were key members of the Survivors' Club. The Queen had personally requested Samantha Cohen to fill the position.
Others included Marnie Gaffney, an assistant press secretary.

According to excerpts, Cohen, who had worked at the Palace for 17 years, frequently told Edward Young, the Queen's private secretary, and Clive Alderton, Charles' private secretary, that the Palace needed proof of the duty of care it had shown to Harry and Meghan in case anything went wrong. A source stated, "The duty of care was crucial. [Sam] was a broken record with them on that,’ said a source."

According to a source cited in the book, Cohen was "bullied" and nothing she did was ever satisfactory to the couple. "Sam [Cohen] always made clear it was like working for a couple of teenagers. They were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable." Last year, the Duchess's attorneys refuted claims that Miss Cohen had been bullied, saying the couple had always appreciated her commitment and support. They have also consistently stated that the Duchess has "absolutely denied" bullying anyone and that such accusations are "massively inaccurate."

According to Royal biographer Robert Lacey, "Meghan came to perceive Young as the inflexible, bureaucratic figure who summed up what was [wrong] with the BP [Buckingham Palace] mentality, and the feeling was mutual. Young really came to dislike Meghan’s style."