Jason Knauf Just Can’t Quit Meghan Markle
and his 60 Minutes interview is dragging Prince William back into the past
If the Firm truly wants to put any and all Sussex drama behind them, they have a funny way of showing it.
Jason Knauf, the former royal aide best known for accusing Meghan of bullying in a conveniently timed leak just days before the Sussexes' bombshell Oprah interview, has popped up again—this time on 60 Minutes Australia. The interview was supposedly about the kind of king Prince William will be, but a few days later, the only headlines coming out of the piece revolve around William’s rift with his brother Harry, and Knauf’s role in the ongoing Meghan Markle saga.
Knauf, who once served as an aide to both brothers before firmly aligning with Team Cambridge, has long been suspected of playing a key role in the smear campaign against Meghan (allegedly, of course). His sudden reappearance, rehashing the same tired narratives, raises a big question: Why can’t the Firm move on from Harry and Meghan if they are so irrelevant?
Because let’s not forget—Knauf isn't just some neutral observer. This is the same man who helped leak those bullying allegations, was released from a non-disclosure agreement to testify against Meghan in her lawsuit against The Mail on Sunday, and recently received a royal honor from William himself.
Yet, instead of bolstering William’s image, his interview has once again dragged the future king into the mud of Sussex drama.
So what gives? Is this just another coincidence in a long line of coincidences, or are William and his allies still using Knauf as a mouthpiece to keep Meghan and Harry on the defensive? And more importantly—will anyone outside the most diehard royalists even care anymore?
Let’s discuss.
The Knauf Factor
Why does this man, who has now left royal service, keep resurfacing when it comes to Meghan and Harry?
For someone who no longer works for the royal family, Jason Knauf sure finds himself at the center of royal drama an awful lot. His latest appearance on 60 Minutes Australia is just the most recent example of a pattern that’s become impossible to ignore: whenever there’s a fresh opportunity to undermine Harry and Meghan, Knauf isn’t far behind.
But who is Jason Knauf, really? His CV paints a picture of a seasoned communications professional with deep ties to royal PR.
Born in Texas and raised in New Zealand, Knauf built a career in corporate and political communications before joining Kensington Palace in 2015 as Prince William and Prince Harry’s communications secretary. Over time, he became increasingly aligned with William and Kate, rising to the position of CEO of the Royal Foundation (the couple’s charitable organization) before quietly stepping down in 2021. He now works as a board member for the Earthshot Prize, William’s flagship environmental initiative—meaning that, despite his departure from formal royal service, his proximity to the future king remains intact.
And that’s what makes his media appearances so interesting. Officially, Knauf is a private citizen, free to speak as he pleases. But let’s be so for real—there is no way a former top aide would be sitting down for a high-profile TV interview discussing the royal family without William’s full approval. Questions about the Sussexes could have been barred if the Firm really didn’t want us to go there. Whether directly sanctioned or merely encouraged, Knauf’s continued engagement in royal affairs suggests he is, at the very least, still a trusted figure within William’s camp.
And the timing here? Suspiciously familiar. (More on that below).
So why keep resurfacing? Is Knauf simply a man with an axe to grind, or is this part of a broader strategy to reinforce William’s image at Harry and Meghan’s expense? Either way, it’s clear that while Knauf may have officially “moved on,” he hasn’t let go.
A Very Convenient Scandal
I want to zoom in on the bullying “scandal” momentarily. Because if Jason Knauf’s name rings a bell, it’s likely because of his role in one of the most damaging (and lingering) accusations ever leveled at the Duchess of Sussex. Just days before Harry and Meghan’s tell-all interview with Oprah aired in 2021, The Times published a report alleging that Meghan had “bullied” palace staff. The source? A leaked complaint filed by none other than Knauf—years earlier, when he worked for Kensington Palace.
At the time, the allegations were treated as explosive: headlines screamed about Meghan’s supposed cruelty, and the Palace swiftly announced an internal review to “examine the circumstances.” But then…nothing. Radio silence, in fact. In 2022, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the investigation had been completed but refused to publish its findings. No details, no report, no public confirmation or exoneration of wrongdoing. Just silence.
This raises an obvious question: if the allegations were so serious, and the media is allowed to continue perpetuating them, why not stand by them? Why not release the report and let the public see the evidence?
Instead, the Firm’s quiet decision to bury the investigation suggests two possibilities: either (A) there was nothing substantial to support the claims against Meghan, or (B) the review unearthed information that the royals really didn’t want out there. After all, workplace culture at the Palace has long been rumored to be toxic, even before Meghan hit the scene. And if the Duchess’s behavior was under scrutiny, it stands to reason that other senior royals’ treatment of staff might have come up as well.
And yet, despite this conspicuous lack of follow-through, the bullying allegations continue to be weaponized against Meghan. Knauf, in particular, has never publicly distanced himself from them, despite his supposed exit from royal affairs. So why keep Meghan’s alleged mistreatment of staff in the conversation, even when the Palace itself refuses to confirm wrongdoing?
The simplest answer: because it serves a purpose. The bullying narrative has always been about perception—painting Meghan as “difficult” and unsympathetic, conveniently deflecting from larger issues within the royal institution itself. Who cares if the allegations are overblown? Now, with Knauf back on TV, the story is being kept alive just in time for Meghan’s next big career move. Coincidence? Or the same old playbook at work?
William’s PR Problem
For an interview supposedly about Prince William’s leadership, Jason Knauf’s 60 Minutes Australia appearance has done little to bolster the future king’s image. Instead of highlighting William’s vision for the monarchy, the headlines are once again dominated by two familiar themes: his fractured relationship with Harry and the ever-lingering drama surrounding Meghan Markle.
And this is a narrative that William’s camp claims to have moved on from.
It’s a recurring issue at this point. The Palace insists that Harry and Meghan are irrelevant to the monarchy’s future, and yet figures within William’s orbit—be it aides, “friends of”, or sanctioned commentators—can’t seem to stop bringing them up. If the Firm truly wanted to turn the page, they wouldn’t keep feeding this narrative.
William’s biggest PR problem isn’t just that his leadership keeps getting overshadowed—it’s that he and his team haven’t figured out how to break the cycle. Whether this is a deliberate strategy or a failure to control the narrative, the result is the same: William is still defined as much by his brother’s absence as by his own future. And for a future king, that’s a problem.
Who Really Benefits?
Knauf’s fans (is that an actual demographic?) might frame him as a loyal servant of the monarchy, but at what point does “loyalty” become a liability? Every time he resurfaces, Knauf doesn’t strengthen William’s position—he just drags him back into the royal soap opera that the Palace insists it wants to leave behind.
And let’s be honest: if this is all part of a carefully managed PR strategy, it’s not a very good one. Public sentiment has shifted—many now see the Palace’s obsession with the Sussexes as petty, not principled. If the goal was to make William look like a decisive, future-focused leader, why keep leaning on figures like Knauf, whose presence only stirs up old grievances?
Then there’s another possibility I have to consider: what if Knauf isn’t a pawn in this strategy, but a player in his own right? His days of royal service may be over, but his influence depends on maintaining proximity to power. By keeping himself in the spotlight, he ensures that his name remains relevant in royal circles—which translates directly into political capital in the nonprofit and philanthropic world.
So, what do you think? Is Jason Knauf just a loyal servant of the monarchy, or is he playing his own game by keeping himself in the public eye? Who’s really pulling the strings? And does this constant resurfacing ultimately benefit William, or is it doing more harm than good?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below and let’s discuss!
Well, Meghan relaunched her brand and her Netflix series will start soon so William had to do SOMETHING. Why else this interview, with this person, now? What's the actual 'hook' for the interview? Was the world waiting for discussion of the 'future King' (and doesn't King Charles get annoyed about that kind of stuff?)
Remember, Kate and William did a few events around the time the series was supposed to start, before Netflix chose to delay it because of the fires (correct call). So I fully expect a new round of engagements to happen soon, once they get back from Mustique, of course. And probably a few new articles rehashing old gossip, like this one.
I don’t believe Meghan bullied anyone, but rather came into the picture as a grown woman, with her own ways and goals, intolerant of the bullying and undermining they had planned for her. Women, most especially black and bi-racial women, are the target of these ‘humbling’ hazings in the workplace often. There are two types of women. Those that tolerate it for fear of the consequences and those who do not, despite any consequences.
The entire lifelong rift between William and Harry seems to be one of similar paradigm. Where William has tolerated certain constraints, due to indoctrination and ‘duty’ to protect the $1b Duchy purse, Harry has refused to be scapegoated and harassed - essentially calling the media’s bluff. The resentment factor has always been related to choice and mentality.
Harry and Meghan’s critics within BRF will claim, through aides, sources and rotten rota members, that H&M made bad choices and behaved poorly. What they really mean is, ‘How dare they make choices I or the others were too afraid or too constrained make; and it all work out?’ From Spare, Oprah, Netflix, it is clear that the family form is to simply put up with these abuses, from within and outside. In Meghan, Harry found a woman, who like his mother, has refused to dim her light. Harry had a real chance at revenge, had the tabloid trial gone any further. You’d think that after sparing the BRF from certain exposure by settling, they’d lay off. But…it seems KP at minimum is intent on keeping the fire burning.