The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are embarking on a new public relations strategy for 2026, following a significant staff shake-up at the end of last year. Meghan Markle has turned to a familiar face, rehiring the high-profile celebrity PR firm that represented her during her tenure on the legal drama Suits.
A Major Staff Blow for the Sussexes
In the final days of 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's organisation, Archewell, was rocked by the resignations of two senior figures. Chief communications officer Meredith Maines and Archewell's executive director, James Holt, announced their departures within days of each other. This double exit left the couple without a dedicated PR team as they entered the new year.
Maines's departure was particularly striking, as she had been in the role for just ten months. Her exit marked a significant milestone: she was the eleventh publicist to leave the Sussexes' employ in the span of just five years. Holt, meanwhile, had a longer history with the couple, having served as their PR boss from 2019 to 2021 before focusing on their philanthropic work after they stepped back as senior royals.
Back to the Future: A Return to Sunshine Sachs
Faced with this vacuum and with several projects gaining momentum, Meghan has moved swiftly to secure new representation. According to reports from The Telegraph, she has re-engaged the New York-based agency Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (SSML).
A source familiar with the arrangement stated, "SSML has been working on projects off and on with the Duke and Duchess since 2017. Sunshine is currently working alongside their internal team on As Ever and with the couple on efforts specifically in the US."
The firm, which specialises in crisis communications for A-list clients, has a deep history with the Duchess. It represented her during her acting career, prior to her relationship with Prince Harry. Meghan developed a close friendship with her then-publicist, Keleigh Thomas Morgan, who was even a guest at the royal wedding in 2018 and is now a partner at the agency.
Parallel Moves in the Royal Family
Interestingly, Meghan is not the only senior royal bolstering her communications team with crisis management expertise. Prince William has also recently hired a specialist, Liza Ravenscroft, to handle public relations for himself and the Princess of Wales. Although her role has been described as "non-crisis," her professional biography notes she works "arm in arm with big names facing their toughest times."
It is believed Ravenscroft was recommended by Julian Payne, a former communications secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla. A source suggested this appointment signals a desire for closer alignment between Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace as planning for the future monarchy continues.
For the Sussexes, the return to SSML represents a strategic pivot. The agency, whose client roster has included stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lopez, was instrumental in helping launch Archewell. As Meghan focuses on her As Ever lifestyle brand and other US-centric ventures, she is placing her public image back in the hands of a trusted, pre-royal ally.
