American broadcaster Gayle King defended the Duchess of Sussex on her radio show as she insisted the 39-year-old was not a ‘mean girl who mistreated staff’.

Meghan has robustly rejected bullying allegations during her time at Kensington Palace.

The Royal Family announced it will investigate complaints, made in 2018, that two staff members were ‘driven out’ by the Duchess.

But the Palace has been accused of ‘double standards’ amid criticism it did not probe sex abuse claims against Prince Andrew.

Meghan’s lawyers have dismissed the accusations as an ‘attack on her character’ after she and Prince Harry, 36, bared their souls in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

She is set to lift the lid on her apparent ‘rift’ with sister-in-law Kate Middleton, 39, it was reported today.

But the Queen will ‘ignore’ the interview, branded a ‘circus’ by royal courtiers, it has been suggested.

The Sussexes were interviewed by Oprah at CBS host Gayle King’s luxurious California mansion

Harry and Meghan’s much-anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey will air tonight

Ms King’s California mansion is said to be the backdrop for the couple’s tell-all chat, due to be aired in the US at around 1am tonight.

The CBS news anchor told listeners: ‘The Palace – also known as The Firm – has launched what appears to be a full-scale takedown of Meghan which is raging in the UK right now, saying she was a mean girl who mistreated staff, and if you meet Meghan Markle nothing could be further from the truth.’

Ms King, 66, who is also close friends with Oprah, slammed the Royal Family for how they responded to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal which embroiled Prince Andrew and has seen him erased from public life.

Prince Andrew, 60, has repeatedly denied any allegations of impropriety.

But Ms King said: ‘I was thinking how is that investigation going with Prince Andrew who was a friend and associate of Jeffrey Epstein and there were allegations of sleeping with underage girls?

‘We’ve interviewed some of those girls, who are now women, who have told that story.

‘But they appear to be on a huge takedown of Meghan.’

The couple are set to lift the lid on tensions in the Royal Family in their tell-all chat with Oprah

Meghan Markle’s friend, Jessica Mulroney, praised the Duchess’ ‘kindness, empathy and love’ in an Instagram post

And Ms King also revealed how Meghan will make ‘very serious’ revealations about her mental health, urging television viewers to ‘make up their own minds’.

‘Because vilified is the word for what has happened to Harry and Meghan, Meghan in particular,’ she added.

Ms King is one of a string of allies who have spoken out in favour of the Duchess.

Meghan’s best friend, Jessica Mulroney – who refers to her as ‘family’ – also praised her handling of the crisis.

The Canadian stylist shared a picture of them sharing a drink in a bar with her 400,000 followers on Instagram, writing in the caption: ‘I don’t know that anyone has ever had to deal with the pressure, the politics and the press like this woman.

‘In the face of it all, I have never seen her waver from kindness, empathy and love.’

Meghan’s on-screen husband in Suits, Patrick J. Adams, criticised the ‘obscene’ Royals for ‘promoting and amplifying’ the bullying allegations.

Another pal, Jill Roth, who has known the Duchess for more than 20 years, claimed ‘goodwill runs in her bones’.