Prince William has appointed Jason Knauf, the controversial former royal aide, as the new CEO of the Earthshot Prize. The move has triggered fresh backlash over Knauf’s history of involvement in the bullying allegations against Meghan Sussex and his role in aiding the Daily Mail’s defense in the lawsuit she ultimately won in 2021. This decision signals how far the royal family will go to reward loyalty over accountability.
Jason Knauf, former CEO of The Royal Foundation and ex-communications secretary at Kensington Palace, has been appointed chief executive of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. Hannah Jones, who’s stepping down after four years, will continue to provide KP with strategic advice.
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) April 17, 2025
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Knauf’s appointment replaces outgoing CEO Hannah Jones, who will continue advising Kensington Palace. But for many, this is not a routine leadership shift. It’s a troubling sign that Prince William remains closely aligned with figures who played central roles in the palace’s most damaging episodes—especially its treatment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Knauf’s Reward Follows a Pattern of Targeting Meghan
Jason Knauf first emerged in the public spotlight as communications secretary for both Prince William and Prince Harry. In 2018, while still working with the Sussexes, Knauf filed a complaint accusing Meghan of bullying staff. The palace never formally investigated the complaint at the time, and key staff members later denied supporting it. Even so, someone leaked the details to the press in 2021—just days before Meghan’s Oprah interview. The pattern repeated this year when Knauf resurfaced on 60 Minutes Australia ahead of Meghan’s Netflix launch.
Related | The Truth About Jason Knauf and Meghan Markle’s Bullying Allegations
Embed from Getty ImagesJason Knauf, then Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation, speaks at the 2021 Earthshot Prize ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London.
Knauf’s decision to support the Daily Mail’s defense in Meghan’s privacy lawsuit sparked further controversy. Despite initially working for her, he provided emails that aided the tabloid’s case. Although Meghan ultimately won in court, Knauf’s involvement raised ethical questions, as these same accusations are routinely brought up by the media whenever Meghan is promoting her projects. The palace never distanced itself from him—instead, he was made CEO of the Royal Foundation, received an award from Prince William, and now leads Earthshot.
This long-standing alliance has frustrated observers who view Knauf’s behavior as part of a broader effort to discredit Meghan. His return to power reinforces the belief that those who undermine her are not just tolerated but elevated.
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William’s Platform Choices and the Company He Keeps
Prince William’s decision to appear on Jeremy Clarkson’s show shortly after Clarkson published a violent, misogynistic column about Meghan only deepens the outrage. Clarkson infamously wrote that he dreamed of Meghan being paraded through the streets and shamed. Rather than condemn the remarks, William went on Clarkson’s show for a promotional segment, signaling indifference or, worse, tacit approval.
Related | Jeremy Clarkson Attacked Meghan In Print—Now Prince William’s On His Show
The choice to align with Clarkson mirrors the decision to reinstate Knauf. Both moves suggest William is not only unfazed by the targeting of Meghan but willing to embrace those who perpetuate it. These relationships have left many questioning Prince William’s judgment, especially as Earthshot claims to stand for ethical innovation and global leadership. Installing a figure like Knauf sends the opposite message—that Earthshot is less about vision and more about palace loyalty.
Prince William may see Earthshot as his signature legacy project, but by installing Jason Knauf at the helm, he ties that legacy to scandal, hypocrisy, and a deeply fractured public trust.
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William is a dangerous, jealous traitor, so I’m not surprised by his actions.
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I read that Jason Knauf was responsible for setting up the fake commercial flight set up for Prince William’s family in which a large and empty of other customers jet transported the family between two locations for the sole purpose of making it appear as though Prince Harry’s use of private jets was environmentally wasteful and unnecessary: https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/prince-william-kate-middleton-budget-commercial-airline-secret-empty-plane/d7b6b1c7-6823-43cd-a7d4-a8db24124026#:~:text=The%20budget%20airline%20that%20flew,their%20brand%20name%20on%20display
It seems that hell hath no wrath such as a petulant heir whose spare is no longer available for blaming or knocking to the floor. But wait, I also read William was very upset that Harry went to Ukraine with the Invictus team and also to Nigeria on Invictus invitation. Perhaps these last two incidents are gossip, but the first, the fake flight is absolutely true.