How Meghan Markle’s Australian aide Samantha ‘the Panther’ Cohen rose from a Brisbane home to Buckingham Palace – before becoming the second aide to walk out on the ‘difficult Duchess’
- Samantha Cohen, 50, has served the royal family for 17 years but is set to leave
- She’s the Australian secretary for Harry and Meghan and said to be ‘a huge loss’
- Her resignation comes amid rumours that the Duchess is difficult to work under
- Ms Cohen was tasked with teaching Meghan the intricacies of the royal family
The no-nonsense Australian personal secretary of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is set to leave her role when their child is born in the spring – becoming the second aide to walk out on the ‘difficult Duchess’.
Samantha Cohen, 50, originally from Brisbane, is a key member of Meghan’s Kensington Palace staff and her departure will continue to fuel rumours the Duchess is difficult to work for.
Married to a dentist, Ms Cohen first joined the palace in 2001 and climbed the ranks to make it within the Duchess of Sussex’s inner circle, but is now set to leave the household.
The feisty Australian personal secretary of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Samantha Cohen, 50, is set to leave her role when their child is born in the Spring
Originally from Brisbane, Ms Cohen is a key member of Meghan’s (pictured) Kensington Palace staff and her departure will continue to fuel rumours the Duchess is difficult to work for
Meghan’s personal assistant Melissa Touabti also quit just six months after the royal wedding at Windsor Castle in May.
The two were reported to have had a ‘difficult’ relationship, according to The Sunday Times.
A royal insider also revealed Meghan usually wakes up at 5am and peppers palace staff with requests about how to shape her role six or seven times a day.
Ms Cohen is nicknamed ‘Samantha the Panther’ and was also one of the Queen’s most trusted aides having served as a communications secretary and spent 17 years working for the royals.
Originally from Brisbane, the mother-of-three is known as ‘The Panther’ for her feisty attitude.
Meghan Markle’s aide Melissa Touabti (right) quit just six months after the royal wedding at Windsor Castle in May. She had also worked for Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda (pictured)
After studying at the University of Queensland, Ms Cohen worked in civil service and public relations and joined Buckingham Palace in 2001.
She answered a newspaper job advertisement for a media minder at the palace while she was on a trip to London almost 20 years ago.
She became deputy press secretary in 2003, before getting the top job in 2007, becoming the first woman to be appointed in the role.
‘They really like Australians here,’ she told The Age in 2004.
‘We bring something to the job they quite like – enthusiasm, a can-do attitude.’
Ms Cohen had worked for Liberal ministers in both the Queensland and Federal governments, the Daily Telegraph reported.
She was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen in 2016.
Ms Cohen (pictured) worked in civil service and public relations before joining Buckingham Palace in 2001
The Australian (pictured) was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen in 2016
Ms Cohen had moved from Buckingham Palace to Kensington Palace to serve the new Duchess of Sussex.
‘It will be six months of listening. She is seeking out advice from a range of people. She is going to proceed with humility. It is not going to be quiet, though. It is going to be a very busy office. She has worked every day of her life. She is used to a demanding schedule,’ a source told The Times.
She was at the royal wedding and is believed to have played a key role in preparing Meghan for a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday – the Duchess’ first appearance as Her Royal Highness.
The garden party saw more than 6,000 people, all from the charities and military associations most closely linked with the Prince, descend on the grounds of Buckingham Palace for music, speeches – and, of course, a customary cup of tea and cucumber sandwich.
Ms Cohen was described as being ‘deeply committed to serving the monarchy’.
Ms Cohen is described as being ‘deeply committed to serving the monarchy’