‘Keep Meghan Markle’s name out of your damn mouth’: Kamala Harris’ niece defends the Duchess ahead of interview

She accused critics of the Duchess of being racist

Meena Harris, vice-president Kamala Harris’ niece, defended Meghan Markle this week ahead of her much-awaited sit-down interview with Oprah, as the Duchess of Sussex faced a complaint she bullied former staff members.

“Keep Meghan Markle’s name out of your damn mouth. You are racist,” said Ms Harris, a former lawyer and tech executive who now runs a lifestyle brand. “Just added the Oprah interview to my calendar as an ALL-DAY EVENT,” she added.

The defense came as Ms Markle faces accusations that she bullied staffers before stepping down as senior royals last year.

On Tuesday, The Sunday Times reported that she faced a bullying complaint from a close adviser in Kensington Palace. According to the Times, Jason Knauf, a communications secretary, filed the complaint in 2018 to protect staff members who were bullied and sometimes left in tears by the Duchess.

"We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex," Buckingham Palace said in a statement in response to the story.

"Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article," the statement continued,” it added. “Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned."

They also said the royal household has had a “Dignity at Work” policy for a number of years and doesn’t tolerate bullying.

Ms Markle strongly denied the allegations.

"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," a spokesperson told Fox News.

The upcoming interview will on air on Sunday on CBS, and will mark the first time the couple has done a joint interview since their engagement day in 2017.

They’re expected to talk about their decision to step aside, the public scrutiny they’ve faced, and will likely touch on the topic of race, a subject both Oprah and Ms Markle are known for speaking up about.