It seems like some plans can be royally painful. Prince William just hired the aide who accused Meghan Markle of bullying, and the decision was reportedly deliberate to make his brother, Prince Harry, mad.
It was announced on April 17 that Prince William appointed Jason Knauf as the CEO of his initiative, Earthshot Prize. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News, “Prince William’s decision to make Jason Knauf, the former private secretary of the Sussexes, the CEO of his most prestigious project will infuriate Harry and Meghan. It is impossible to avoid feeling that this is precisely what William intended.”
He continued, “As far as the Sussexes are concerned, [Knauf] undoubtedly has pariah status. William is clearly showing he doesn’t care about what his brother thinks, much less Meghan.… The royal rift seems permanent.”
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich said that the decision also added fuel to the flames. “While every royal has had issues regarding those they can trust, Prince William, having been betrayed by his brother, is wary and has deeper trust issues. Jason remains one of his closest confidantes, a trusted advisor and a member of his inner circle due to his discretion during difficult times.”
Knauf accused Meghan of bullying, claiming she drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third staff member in 2018. In response, a spokesperson for Meghan said she was “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”
The appointment also comes after reports that Prince William will inherit the throne and that one of his first orders of business is to curb Prince Harry’s influence. “It’s no secret William wants Harry more harshly dealt with. He thinks he has betrayed the family from top to bottom, which is the ultimate Windsor crime. It wouldn’t take much to provoke him to flex his muscles when he is king,” a palace insider told The Daily Beast. And with this appointment just being the tip of the iceberg, who knows what Prince William will do to piss off his brother next.
