The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are facing fresh turbulence in their media operations after their senior communications executive stepped down. This latest exit marks a significant and ongoing challenge for the couple's public relations strategy.
Key Departures Rock Sussex Communications Team
Meredith Maines, who served as the chief communications officer for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has handed in her resignation. She had been in the high-profile role for less than a year. In a statement, Ms Maines indicated she would be pursuing a new professional opportunity in 2026.
This departure is not an isolated incident. Reports suggest Ms Maines is the 11th publicist to leave the employ of the Sussexes in the past five years, highlighting a pattern of rapid turnover within their press office. The couple have also severed ties with their US-based PR firm, Method Communications. This partnership, announced just seven months ago, has now been dissolved.
Restructuring at Archewell Coincides with Changes
The shake-up in their communications team coincides with organisational changes at their charitable foundation, Archewell Philanthropies. The foundation has announced staff redundancies as it transitions to a fiscal sponsor operating model. This model will see Archewell's projects managed and administered by an established non-profit organisation, a move often made to streamline operations and reduce overheads.
Who Will Handle PR Now?
With the departure of Meredith Maines, the couple are not seeking a direct replacement for her position. Instead, Liam Maguire, the current UK and Europe director of communications for Archewell, is expected to assume her responsibilities on an interim basis. This consolidation of roles suggests a potential scaling back or restructuring of their external communications approach.
These developments come at a time when the Sussexes are navigating their commercial and philanthropic ventures independently from the Royal Family. The consistent churn in their senior PR personnel raises questions about the stability and long-term direction of their media strategy as they build their brand in the United States and beyond.
