Moment Meghan Markle was 'told off' by Queen Elizabeth II over 'rude' behaviour towards staff member
Meghan was accused of 'bullying' during her time as a working royal
Queen Elizabeth II reportedly stepped in to reprimand Meghan Markle after the Duchess of Sussex was allegedly “very rude” to a royal gardener at Windsor Castle, a royal author claimed.
The alleged incident occurred during Meghan’s time living at Frogmore Cottage with Prince Harry, shortly after their 2018 wedding.
Queen Elizabeth II ‘told off’ Meghan Markle for ‘being rude’ to royal gardener
Royal expert and author Hugo Vickers shared the account in an interview. He claimed that Queen Elizabeth II was made aware of the interaction by the head gardener.
“When [Meghan] was at Windsor, I remember hearing from very good sources that there was trouble,” Hugo told The Sun.
“There was a time when she was very rude to one of the under gardeners at Windsor. The head gardener went to complain to the queen, and she told [Meghan] off because she obviously didn’t like people being rude to staff. None of these other stories surprised me. She probably is not very good with staff or people that she’s employing. It’s just very unattractive.”
The allegation adds to a series of claims about Meghan’s relationship with royal staff during her brief time as a working royal.
There was a time when she was very rude to one of the under gardeners at Windsor.
In 2020, she and Prince Harry stepped down from their official roles and relocated to California.
Meghan has denied allegations of bullying. However, some insiders have reportedly continued to voice concerns about her management style.
A source told The Sunday Times last year: “I witnessed people being chewed up in person and over the phone and made to feel like [bleep].”
The duchess has consistently pushed back against such portrayals.
Through a spokesperson, Meghan previously described the accusations as part of a “calculated smear campaign” aimed at discrediting her ahead of her and Prince Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
Meghan Markle ‘bullying’ accusations
Despite criticism from some corners, Meghan has also received support from former staffers and insiders.
Tom Quinn’s 2025 book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants opened up about Meghan’s time in the monarchy.
Tom claimed that Meghan was viewed by some palace aides as someone unwilling to quietly endure the pressures of royal life.
“Some people can cope with this – Kate Middleton is perhaps the supreme example. But others try to fight back, which is what Meghan clearly did,” the book claimed.
One former staff member added: “You’ve got to hand it to her. She really is a fighter.”
The queen was known for her long-standing loyalty to her staff and high expectations of kindness from her family toward palace employees.
The late monarch was admired for her reported calm but firm approach to internal disputes. She preferred to settle issues quietly but decisively behind palace doors.
Although the reported telling off has not been officially confirmed, it appears consistent with the queen’s reputation for maintaining respectful standards within the royal household.
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Meghan for comment.
Read more: Meghan Markle looks stunned in new video as she gushes over Easter ‘surprise’
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