We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have accused Pince William of allowing one of his former aides, Jason Knauf, to testify against the Duchess of Sussex in a high profile court case. In the second volume of the explosive Netflix documentary series, a seemingly frustrated Duchess of Sussex exclaims: “It’s your brother! I’m not going to say anything about your brother but it’s so obvious.”
A message that Meghan sent to Mr Knauf when she shared a “personal and private” letter she was going to send to her father Thomas Markle in 2018 was shown in the documentary.
In the message, Meghan states that the letter is confidential but that she understands it could be leaked.
In his witness statement in the Appeal Court case against Associated Newspapers, Jason Knauf claimed that the Duchess of Sussex wrote a letter to her father “understanding it could be leaked”.
In the last episode of the couple’s Netflix series, British lawyer Jenny Afia explained how the case was appealed by the company in 2021, despite a judge stating they weren’t required to go to trial.
She claimed a witness statement and leaked text conversation between Meghan and Mr Knauf about the letter to her father was what caused controversy.
Ms Afia claimed Prince William would have been aware of Mr Knauf coming forward to testify.
She added: “When we were just about to go to the court of appeal, a senior member of the Duke of Cambridge’s team came forward to give this witness statement, which wasn’t required.
“And sadly, there’s no way he could have done that without the authority of his bosses.”
Footage of a visibly stressed Meghan is then shown with her telling Harry it is “so obvious” that Prince William played a part in Mr Knauf coming forward, becuase he was the prince’s own press secretary at the time.
‘It’s your brother!’ Meghan Markle’s frustration at William over legal case (Image: Netflix)
Meghan Markle broke down in tears in the documentary (Image: Netflix)
Prince William supposedly broke a lifelong promise he made to his brother Prince Harry when cracks in their relationship began to show.
Harry claimed that the “planting” and “leaking” of stories between his and William’s office led to “heartbreak”.
Read more HERE.
Harry added: “What’s even more obvious is the fact that they’re trying to cover that up.”
Referring to the fact that there had been no mention of Mr Knauf’s connection to William, he went on: “Again ‘Jason, the former aide of Harry and Meghan.’
“That’s why I’m now living in a new country. This is the contract, the symbiotic relationships between the two institutions working the best way they can.”
Prince Harry has previously spoken of the tense relationship he now shares with his brother, Prince William, since he and Meghan made the decision to step down as senior royals.
In their ground-breaking 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke of Sussex said: “I love William to bits. He’s my brother. We’ve been through hell together.
“I mean, we have a shared experience. But we, you know, we’re on different paths.”
Speaking of his brother, he added: “The relationship is space at the moment. And, you know, time heals all things, hopefully.”
Ahead of the second half of the series, a new trailer was released by Netflix which teased dramatic revelations about Buckingham Palace protocol.
In the video, Prince Harry condemned the notion of “institutional gaslighting,” which follows his earlier claim, included in the first trailer, that there was a “planting” of media stories.
The Duke of Sussex added: “They were happy to lie to protect my brother. They were never willing to tell the truth to protect us.”
The dramatic revelation was a clear indication that the second half of the series promised to delve deeper into the relations between the two royal brothers.
A further trailer released just a day before the second instalment premiered, spoke of a “war against Meghan” and claimed the Duchess was used as a “scapegoat for the Palace”.
Lucy Fraser, who is credited in the series as a friend of the couple, said: “They would feed stories on her, whether they were true or not, to avoid other, less favourable stories being printed.”
Meghan Markle’s frustration at William over legal case (Image: Getty)
The trailer suggested there was “evidence” of “negative briefings” from Buckingham Palace concerning Prince Harry and Meghan in order to suit the “agenda” of others.
Meghan added: “A story about someone in the family would pop up for a minute and they go: ‘We’ve got to make that go away’.”
The new episodes have aired as the Prince of Wales is set to attend a Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
Prince William will be accompanied by other senior royal figures, including King Charles and the Queen Consort, and his wife the Princess of Wales will host the event.
This year’s service has been dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth II and, as host, the Princess of Wales is expected to pay tribute to the former monarch.
See today’s front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive.