Prince William has brought back a senior royal aide at the centre of the Meghan Markle ‘bullying’ row – just weeks after the official gave a no-holds-barred interview where he said he had ‘no regrets’ about his explosive claims.
Jason Knauf, the former chief executive of The Royal Foundation, has been named the next CEO of The Earthshot Prize, Kensington Palace revealed today.
He replaces Hannah Jones, who will step back from her role this summer after four years at the helm of the Prince of Wales’s flagship environmental project.
Jones, who became Earthshot’s first CEO in 2021, will remain in an advisory role – while Knauf will take up the post immediately to ensure a smooth transition.
The appointment has raised eyebrows among royal watchers, coming just weeks after Knauf broke his silence on his role in the bombshell allegations against Meghan Markle – including a leaked email where he accused the Duchess of Sussex of bullying staff ‘out of the royal household’.
In the 2018 message, which emerged shortly before Harry and Meghan’s tell-all Oprah interview aired in 2021, Knauf wrote: ‘The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights.
‘She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.’
Jason Knauf (pictured in the documentary for 60 Minutes Australia) added that both William and Kate are simply themselves in front of the cameras
Jason Knauf (left) is pictured with Harry and Meghan attending the Invictus Games in Toronto
In a recent interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Knauf spoke publicly about the scandal for the first time, insisting he had ‘no regrets’ over the allegations.
Reflecting on the media firestorm, he said: ‘I think it, it’s tough, but it’s probably quite good. You know someone who has been helping other people through how to deal with the public eye. You probably had to take your own medicine sometimes.’
He went on in what many viewed as a thinly veiled swipe at the Sussexes, saying: ‘You can’t choose just to take the fun stuff in any job.
‘And that applies to the Prince and Princess as well as everyone else working for them. So I wouldn’t change anything.’
Pressed on whether he would have done anything differently, Knauf doubled down: ‘No.’ He added that in a royal role, you have to ‘take everything that comes with it.’
Despite the explosive claims, Knauf still had warm words for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, saying he had ‘lots of great times’ with the pair and fond memories of working on their 2018 wedding.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan previously hit back at the bullying claims, branding them a ‘calculated smear campaign.’
Jason said at the time: ‘Working for the Prince and Princess of Wales was the honour of a lifetime’
Speaking in the documentary, Jason touched on William and Harry’s fractured relationship, saying that it was ‘sad’ and the Prince of Wales has chosen to be ‘private’ about it
Mr Knauf is pictured with the Princess of Wales during a visit to Scotland in 2021
Knauf began his royal career as joint communications secretary for both the Cambridges and the Sussexes, before later working solely with William and Kate. He was heavily involved in launching both the Heads Together mental health initiative and the prestigious Earthshot Prize.
He later served as chief executive of the Royal Foundation before stepping down in 2021 and was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by Prince William at Windsor Castle in 2023.
Following today’s announcement, Knauf said: ‘I am honoured to be appointed as the next CEO of The Earthshot Prize and look forward to working with our exceptional team and incredible Earthshot community to advance our mission of urgent optimism for our planet.
‘The Prize has already achieved so much and the future potential is vast. I can’t wait to get started.’
The Prince of Wales, 42, said in a statement: ‘As the first CEO, Hannah has built The Prize into a world class organisation with an incredible team delivering an annual Prize, powering a platform for speeding solutions to scale, and catalysing a movement to encourage young people, spark imaginations and infuse urgent optimism across the world.’
The Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured in Southport in October 2024) are not interested in the fame and celebrity that comes with their roles, according to a former aide
‘As we look ahead to the future of The Prize and the urgent work needed to scale more inspiring solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, I look forward to working with Jason to chart the course for the next five years of The Earthshot Prize and beyond.’
Hannah Jones said: ‘As I tell all our finalists in our annual Fellowship Retreat, one of the most important jobs of a CEO is to know the right time to step aside.’
‘After four years, and midway through the Earthshot decade, this is my time to pass the baton. It’s been a privilege to help bring The Prince of Wales’s founding vision to life. I’m incredibly proud of everything our team has achieved, deeply grateful to all our Founding Partners and Global Alliance for their support, and I am delighted to remain an enthusiastic member of The Earthshot family.’
