The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are facing another significant shake-up in their public relations team, with their chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, announcing her departure after just one year in the role. This marks the eleventh publicist to leave the couple's employ in the five years since they stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States.
A Year of 'Inspiring Work' and a Secret Summit
In a statement, Ms Maines spoke of her "gratitude and respect" for Prince Harry and Meghan, describing her time working with them and their Archewell foundation as "inspiring work." She confirmed she would be "pursuing a new opportunity in 2026." A spokesperson for the couple thanked both Maines and the US-based PR firm Method Communications, which is also concluding its work with Archewell after a seven-month tenure.
Ms Maines's exit comes five months after she participated in a secret 'peace summit' in London with King Charles III's communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae. The meeting, which took place in July at a private members' club in Mayfair, was seen as a significant step towards reconciliation between the Sussexes and the monarch, especially following the King's cancer diagnosis. However, sources close to Harry expressed frustration when details and pictures of the meeting were published exclusively by The Mail on Sunday, insisting the Sussexes were not the source of the leak.
A Pattern of PR Turbulence
The loss of Meredith Maines follows closely on the heels of another senior communications staffer leaving the Sussexes' organisation. Emily Robinson, who was hired as director of communications in June, departed by October, after only a few months. Her hiring had been controversial due to her previous work on Netflix's The Crown, a series criticised for its portrayal of the Royal Family.
This rapid turnover highlights ongoing challenges in the couple's media strategy. In the past year alone, they have navigated several public relations difficulties, including:
- Criticism of Meghan's video posted during Paris Fashion Week, which showed her being driven along a route reminiscent of Princess Diana's final journey.
- An unflattering Vanity Fair cover story in February containing allegations about Meghan's treatment of staff.
- A damaging report in The Hollywood Reporter quoting sources who described a tense working atmosphere.
The couple have consistently pushed back against negative narratives, most notably with a supportive feature in People magazine featuring testimonials from employees.
Looking Ahead: A Consolidated Team?
With the departure of Ms Maines, it is understood that Liam Maguire, the UK and Europe director of communications, will now lead all publicity-related work for Archewell. This consolidation may signal a new approach for the Sussexes as they seek to stabilise their external communications after a period of frequent change.
The pattern of high-profile PR departures—11 in five years, though two former publicists moved into non-PR roles within the organisation—continues to draw scrutiny as Harry and Meghan build their commercial and philanthropic ventures independently of the Royal Family. The search for a replacement for the pivotal chief communications officer role will be watched closely by both supporters and critics alike.
