Meghan Markle faces ‘immense’ challenges as the staffing row continues, according to a PR expert.

Meghan Markle was criticised by a PR expert after the latest string of allegations made against her as the staffing row continues.

The Duchess of Sussex found herself in hot water this month after The Hollywood Reporter published a damning report citing a current senior staffer who claimed that she acts like a “dictator in high heels” and colleagues are allegedly “terrified” of her and her “belittling” behaviour towards them.

The story also said that Meghan’s reported “penchant for noisy tantrums and angry 5 a.m. emails has earned her the in-house moniker ‘Duchess Difficult’.”

Following that, Us Weekly published a cover story citing various current and former employees of the Sussex couple who rushed to Meghan’s defence and praised her for her “kindness”.

But after the ‘counter-attack’, fresh claims regarding Meghan’s attitude emerged after a courtier who reportedly worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they were working royals alleged to the Daily Beast that Meghan was a “demon” boss who had “psycho moments” during their service and made people “feel like s**t”.

Meghan Markle’s staffing row continues (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle was praised for her kindness by some of her staff (Image: Getty)

The latest reports follow previous bullying allegations which were made against the Duchess back in 2018, which she has long and vehemently denied.

Now a PR expert claimed that the fresh claims made against Meghan would be damaging to her reputation despite the counter-narrative as she is now seen as “the enemy of staffers who are fleeing because of the devastating environment.”

Eric Schiffer, Chair of Reputation Management Consultants, told Newsweek: “Meghan’s challenges are immense because this now is a pattern of behaviour outside of Britain that calls into question a level of horrible incompetence in leadership.

“She is now seen as the enemy of staffers who are fleeing because of the devastating environment. None of which is good for Meghan when she is still recovering from the reputational damage from across the pond.

“These are current allegations. What it says is that she’s either painfully deluded about her own behaviour or there’s a series of people who are choosing to lie to reporters which doesn’t seem to ring as true.”

The expert added: “This scandalabra she’s facing is not just a smoking crater on her reputation but now begins to draw into question her judgement and her ability to control herself and her behaviour.”

Meghan Markle was dubbed ‘Duchess Difficult’ by the Hollywood Reporter (Image: Getty)

The Hollywood Reporter stood by its report, with Co-Editor in Chief Maer Roshan saying to Access Hollywood: “Our reporter talked to a very high-up source who works for the couple and said: “Everyone is terrified of Meghan.”

“Duchess Difficult is a nickname that has trailed Meghan Markle for quite a few years. What is new is that this notion, since coming to America, that a lot of these rumours were manufactured by the Palace and the reporting that we did suggests that probably isn’t true and there is still this undercurrent of fear.”

Schiffer added: “The Hollywood Reporter has great credibility and authority in reporting accurately the inner workings and behind-the-scenes truth of many of the most prominent people within entertainment. And their reporting is relied upon and looked to as a credible source of reliable information both by leaders within the industry, but also by other respected media organisations.

“Meghan’s pushback is textbook crisis management where she will leverage staffers that may have a different perspective or loyalty to her. That will allow her to reshape the narrative somewhat versus just one side where there’s no pushback.

“Either way, having a second set of allegations outside of Britain where there’s now a pattern is like the plague for her where she’s trying to show none of the original allegations were true.”

Some of Meghan Markle’s defenders included the Sussexes’s press secretary, Ashley Hansen, and former Archewell president Mandana Dayani.

Ms Hansen told Us Weekly: “When I told them, I was met with the kind of concern and care a parent would express if it were their own child. I was asked what I needed, how and if they could help, and told to take as much time as I needed.”

Ms Dayani also said: “Part of the profound injustice of having to speak publicly on this in light of these endless and damaging narratives is that so much of the kindness, mentorship, and support that Prince Harry and Meghan share with others happens quietly behind closed doors.

“Throughout every global crisis, their first question was always: ‘How can we help?’ Whether they were veterans, women, refugees, animals in harm, they both showed up. Never asking for anything in return. […] Just last week, as Meghan and I were planning our next lunch, I told her how excited I was to pick her brain on my latest ventures. These are kind, decent, caring people who I am very proud to call my friends.”