The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are facing fresh scrutiny over their communications team after the departure of their chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, marks the eleventh such exit in just five years.
A Pattern of Departures Points to Deeper Issues
Meredith Maines, who was appointed to lead press and media operations for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the end of 2024, has announced she is stepping down after approximately one year in the role. Her departure is a significant blow, highlighting a persistent pattern of instability within the couple's senior communications staff.
PR expert Mayah Riaz told the Mirror that such a high turnover in senior communications roles is rarely about recruitment mistakes. "From a PR perspective, a high turnover in comms almost always signals a deeper structural issue rather than a run of bad hires," she stated. Riaz explained that the environment around the Sussexes is uniquely intense, with every move analysed on a global scale and often becoming politicised.
Conflicting Accounts and an 'Impossible' Environment
Reports surrounding Maines's exit have been contradictory. One source described her tenure as "an absolute disaster," suggesting she left to save face. However, another countered that she had enjoyed her time and left after achieving set goals, including launching projects and facilitating a meeting between Prince Harry and his father, King Charles, in September.
Riaz elaborated on the pressures, stating that the desire for tight narrative control can create unsustainable working conditions. "When clients want to micromanage narrative, react emotionally to coverage, or pivot strategy frequently, it creates an impossible working environment," she said. This often forces teams into a reactive 'firefighting' mode, leading to rapid burnout instead of allowing for long-term strategic planning.
Brand Confusion and Eroding Trust
The expert also pointed to specific incidents that illustrate potential brand confusion, such as Meghan's recent appearance at a Kardashian-family event. Photographs from the party were posted and then deleted, with conflicting reports about photo consents. "To the public it looks like brand confusion," Riaz noted. "Are they distancing themselves from celebrity culture or leaning into it?" Such moments can spark internal conflict if the principals' actions undermine the communications team's strategy.
Riaz added that in high-profile settings, internal tensions and fear of leaks can erode trust. "Once trust erodes, comms teams feel exposed. No PR professional wants to be blamed for optics they did not create," she explained. She concluded that repeated departures are a symptom of broader organisational strain, stating: "If you’re burning through communicators, the message is not the problem - the ecosystem is."
A spokesman for the Sussexes confirmed Maines's departure, saying: "Meredith Maines and Method Communications have concluded their work with Archewell. The duke and duchess are grateful for their contributions and wish them well."
In her own statement, Meredith Maines said: “After a year of inspiring work with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Archewell, I will be pursuing a new opportunity in 2026. I have the utmost gratitude and respect for the couple and the team, and the good work they are doing in the world.”
The couple have previously denied suggestions of dysfunction within their team, characterising staff changes as part of normal turnover for a fast-paced global operation.
