Prince William's Holiday 'Hypocrisy': Festive 'Fight' With Servant Echoes Palace Meghan Markle Bullying Probe for Many

During a festive Christmas party for the royal family and their staff, Prince William found himself in an unexpected alleged "fight" that left attendees surprised.

This has one insider and numerous Sussex fans calling the brawl royal "hypocrisy" after Buckingham Palace's 2021 probe into claims of Meghan Markle bullying staffers.

Former royal butler Grant Harrold recounted the incident, shedding light on the "playful" side of the Prince of Wales.

The event took place at Sandringham, the royal family's traditional Christmas retreat. As part of the celebrations, a playful game was organized, pitting the royal family against their staff in a lighthearted competition. Harrold, who was present during the festivities, described the atmosphere as "jovial."

According to the butler-turned-author, the game involved a mock "sword fight" using inflatable swords. William, known for his competitive nature and sense of humor, eagerly participated. During the mock battle, the future king faced off against a member of the staff, leading to a spirited and entertaining duel.

"It was all in good fun," Harrold said. "The Prince was laughing, and everyone enjoyed the moment. It showcased his down-to-earth personality and willingness to engage with staff on a personal level."

Harrold's recollection of the mock sword fight adds to the collection of cherished memories from these gatherings, illustrating the human side of the monarchy. It serves as a reminder that, despite their royal status, members of the family engage in playful activities and share laughter, much like families around the world during the holiday season.

Despite this description, one source felt the sharing of the news was "a bit of royal hypocrisy honestly since they think it's okay to advertise this as a future monarch tearing down a servant."

"So what about all the allegations and innuendo spread about Meghan terrorizing her staff and making them feel like goo under her shoes?" they asked.

"Millions of people sadly get online bullying… it happens all the time," Harrold told an outlet last March.

"A lot of the members of the royal family do not go on social media for that very reason," he observed. "So they don’t see the negative comments. There is positive, but there is always negative. Sometimes you should be rising above it. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, could be on social media, but she doesn’t talk about it."

In a rare moment of candid confession, Meghan lashed out at those who gave her "cruel online abuse" while she was pregnant with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet during her panel interview at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, that same month.

The Duchess of Sussex revealed to the crowd, "Oh, it’s really interesting, as I can reflect on it. I keep my distance on it right now, just for my own well-being. But the bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online, was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili."

During the summer of 2022, palace courtiers declined to release what they found during their investigation of the ex-actress.

Marie Claire reported on the expert revelations.