Buckingham Palace has been accused of orchestrating a ‘smear campaign’ after three-year-old allegations about Meghan Markle ‘bullying staff’ were leaked to the press.

In the latest bitter row between the Sussexes and the remaining members of the royal family, Meghan’s team hit back furiously against claims she ‘drove out’ two members of staff during her time at Kensington Palace.

The Times reported the duchess has been subject to a complaint from Jason Knauf in 2018, who was working as the couple’s communications secretary at the time.

He said he was acting to protect other staff members and alleged Meghan’s ‘unacceptable behaviour’ had forced two PAs to leave.

But Meghan’s team called the allegations ‘misleading and harmful misinformation’ which was being used to ‘peddle a false narrative’ in advance of the Oprah Winfrey interview airing on Sunday.

A spokesman for the couple was reported by The Times as saying: ‘Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of the Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.

‘It’s no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining the duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and the duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years.’

In their first major sit-down chat with a top broadcaster since leaving their roles as senior royals last year, the Oprah interview has been billed as a ‘tell-all’ expose of the couple’s time in the royal family.

It will be shown on CBS in the US at 8pm on Sunday and in the UK, reportedly on ITV, on Monday.

The interview has severely heightened already strained tensions between the two camps. Last month the Queen stripped the couple of their royal patronages while they quipped back that ‘service is universal’ in remarks that were widely regarded as an insult.

The whole saga is taking place against the back-drop of Prince Philip’s longest ever hospital stay. The ailing duke, 99, was moved to a specialist heart hospital on Monday. It’s thought the screening of the interview will go-ahead regardless of Philip’s health.

In further comments about the bullying allegations, Meghan’s spokesman said: ‘The duchess is 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.’

In a trailer released for the interview, Oprah is seen asking Meghan to confirm that ‘no subject is off limits’ to which the duchess responds by nodding.

In other clips Harry tells the US chat show host that his ‘biggest fear was history repeating itself’ referencing similarities between the way his wife has been treated and his mother Diana.

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