Meghan Markle accused of wearing earrings from Mohammed bin Salman
Meghan Markle’s representatives hit back Tuesday at a
bombshell news report that she faced an official complaint of bullying from
several Kensington Palace staff members, and blasted “spurious allegations”
related to another problematic choice a pair of earrings worn to a state dinner
in Fiji.
As reported by the Times in the UK, the Duchess of Sussex
wore diamond earrings to the dinner during her and Prince Harry’s visit there
in 2018. The Times said the earrings were a wedding gift from controversial Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Times said.
The dinner, hosted by the president of Fiji, took place
three weeks after Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered at
the Saudi embassy in Turkey — a killing that U.S. intelligence agencies say was
ordered by bin Salman.
At the time, multiple outlets, including Elle, reported that
the dramatic diamond earrings were borrowed from the royal family.
According to the Times, the duchess didn’t deny that she said
the earrings were borrowed, “despite being aware of their provenance.” But in a
statement, her spokesperson objected to “spurious allegations regarding the use
of gifts loaned to the duchess by the Crown.”
People magazine reported that the earrings were gifted on
March 7, 2018, from the Saudi royal family, who is represented by bin Salman.
The crown prince met with the queen at Buckingham palace during a three-day
visit to launch a Saudi-U.K. economic and investment partnership. At the time,
bin Salman was viewed by Western leaders and the media as a potential force for
progressive change in the Middle East, but that view changed with the death of
Khashoggi.
The Times report comes five days before Meghan and Harry are
set to appear on CBS in a highly-anticipated, “wide-ranging” interview with
Oprah Winfrey. It appears timed to cast Meghan in a less glowing light.
The Times report said current and former palace employees
approached the newspaper, concerned that the Winfrey interview would be
one-sided and that the palace had not adequately addressed their concerns about
the bullying.
The interview already has been recorded, and the legendary
talk-show host says in promotional ads that the couple reveal “shocking things”
about Meghan’s “almost unsurvivable” time in the royal family. The couple also
are expected to discuss their decision to stop being working royals and
re-locate to Meghan’s home state of California.
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