How Harry and Meghan's relationship with Palace staff fell apart

THE Duchess of Sussex made clear to Palace staff she would "be their boss" six months before she became engaged to Prince Harry, it is claimed.

-  Liz Perkins

Meghan, 41, is said to have made the remark in the spring of 2017 and was prepared to offer her opinion in a way that was different to previous royal girlfriends.

The former Suits actress was also said to be unhappy at dealing with more junior staff, which a source said: "She would take it as an insult." The explosive claims appear in Courtiers: the Hidden Power Behind the Crown, a new book by author and royal reporter Valentine Low.

It claims in a conversation with one of Harry's advisers ahead of their engagement, Meghan said: "I think we both know I'm going to be one of your bosses soon."

But immediate Harry's concern was protecting his girlfriend after intrusion into her life after their relationship was revealed in October 2016.

Meghan wanted to make their relationship official to the press. Low's book claims she threatened to split from the Prince if this didn't happen.

A source said: "She was saying, 'If you don't put out a statement confirming I'm your girlfriend, I'm going to break up with you"."

The situation reportedly led Harry, 38, to panic and another source said: "He was freaking out, saying, 'She's going to dump me"."

It led the Duke of Sussex to turn to Jason Knauf, who had been brought in to work with Harry and the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace as communications secretary in 2015.