Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are once again seeing changes in their staff. Recently, Meredith Maines, who was their chief communications officer, left her job after starting in March. Also, James Holt, a longtime advisor and executive director at Archewell, departed at the end of December.
These exits follow the resignations of three other communications team members earlier in the year. Ashley Hansen, their global press secretary, also left last year to start her own business.
Doug Eldridge, who runs Achilles PR, noted that losing so many senior communications advisors in a single year is unusual, unless it’s during the final months of a political administration.
Royal photographer Helena Chard joked about the frequent staff changes. She suggested that the controversy around Kris Jenner’s birthday party might have led to Maines’ departure, due to media handling and public perception issues.
Chard also pointed out a “lack of clarity” in Harry and Meghan’s messaging and suggested they might not be following the advice of their experts.
Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich sees these departures as proof that Harry and Meghan are “unmanageably high-maintenance and hypocritical.” She also compared their high staff turnover to Prince William and Kate Middleton, whose senior communications staff have been with them for years.
Eldridge and Chard believe these departures are bringing unwanted media attention to the couple, focusing on why so many advisors are leaving.
Fordwich believes it may become difficult for Harry and Meghan to attract top professionals who are willing to work for them, given their “incoherent track-record to date.”
