An ex-Royal aide who lodged a bullying complaint against Meghan Markle has been awarded a prestigious honor by Prince William at Windsor Castle.
Jason Knauff, now known as Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, was recognized for his dedicated service to the Royal Family as per last year’s New Year’s Honours list.
The title, granted by the King independently of Downing Street, acknowledges individuals who serve the Monarch or the Royal Family in a personal capacity.
During a ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, Prince William personally bestowed the honor upon Mr. Knauff.
The former aide had raised concerns about Meghan’s behavior to William, who was then the Private Secretary, while serving as the Communications Secretary for Prince Harry and Meghan back in October 2018.
His actions were seen as an effort to prompt Buckingham Palace to establish protocols safeguarding staff members.
Meghan’s legal team has consistently refuted the bullying accusations that came to light in 2021.
In a controversial Netflix documentary series featuring the Sussexes, Meghan’s lawyer contended that the former aide could not have provided testimony in her copyright lawsuit against a newspaper publisher without authorization from his superior.
In the final installment of the documentary, Prince Harry alleged there were efforts to conceal Mr. Knauff’s association with Prince William.
The aide was portrayed as a former member of Meghan and Harry’s team, rather than his actual role as the Chief Executive of William and Kate’s Royal Foundation at the time.
A statement issued by Mr. Knauff’s legal representatives and aired during the Netflix program dismissed the allegations as entirely baseless.
It clarified that Mr. Knauff was requested to provide evidence by both the Duchess of Sussex and the newspapers involved.
Acting on legal advice, he submitted relevant evidence directly to the court, maintaining impartiality throughout the process.
Before joining the Royal Institution, the American-born former corporate affairs executive held positions in various esteemed organizations, including the office of the New Zealand Prime Minister, HM Treasury, and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
His tenure as the communications secretary for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry commenced in 2015, followed by leading the press team for Meghan and Harry.
Subsequently, he assumed the role of senior adviser to William and Kate.
Mr. Knauff spearheaded a comprehensive review of the Royal Foundation’s functions and framework starting from March 2019, eventually ascending to the position of chief executive in September of the current year.
Under his leadership, the Foundation successfully launched the Earthshot Prize, Prince William’s ambitious £50 million environmental initiative, now operating as an independent charity that acknowledges innovative solutions and technologies aimed at healing the planet.