Meghan and Harry's PR Chief Meredith Maines Departs After One Year

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s lead public relations representative, Meredith Maines, is leaving her position after a year in the role.

Us Weekly can confirm that Maines will no longer be working for the Sussexes in her capacity as Chief Communications Officer (CCO), a position she began in January. Maines collaborated with US-based PR firm, Method Communications. The Sussexes have ended their relationship with the consultancy group after seven months.

“Following a year of impactful work with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Archewell, I will be pursuing a new professional opportunity in 2026,” Maines stated in a message to Us. “I have deep gratitude and respect for the couple and the team, and the valuable work they are doing in the world.”

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: “Meredith Maines and Method Communications have concluded their engagement with Archewell. The Duke and Duchess are thankful for their contributions and wish them well.”

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Meanwhile, an insider praised Maines’ abilities, exclusively telling Us on Friday, December 26 that Maines is “among the very best.”

“Anyone who has collaborated with Meredith knows she’s exceptional – she’s direct, highly strategic and has a wealth of experience. They’ve achieved a great deal over the past year and it’s time for the next chapter,” the source said.

In May, Forbes reported that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, incorporated Method Communications into their communications team as they continued to expand their careers and community initiatives.

“Chief Communications Officer Meredith Maines has retained the global firm Method Communications to strengthen her team overseeing the expanding business portfolio and philanthropic endeavors of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” a spokesperson for the royals told the outlet at the time. “Method is an integrated PR and marketing agency specializing in high-growth technology and consumer brands. The Sussex team also recently welcomed Emily Robinson as Director of Communications. Method is serving as an extension of that team.”

Maines’ departure marks what is believed to be the 11th publicist to cease working for the couple in the past five years since Meghan and Harry stepped away from the British Royal Family in 2020.

Her exit follows the couple’s director of communications, Emily Robinson, leaving her prominent role after just a few months in October.

“Ms. Robinson oversaw project-based work for a very productive season of With Love, Meghan and additional support for the production company,” a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex told Us Weekly in a statement on October 24. “She performed an excellent job and completed these projects with considerable success.”

Robinson joined Meghan and husband Prince Harry’s team in June after a previous role doing publicity for Netflix. The Times of London and People reported that Robinson departed voluntarily.

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In June, there was another personnel change when it was reported by multiple outlets that four team members had moved on from the Sussexes.

Meghan has faced accusations in the past of creating a challenging work environment. The Times of London reported in 2021 that the Suits actress had allegedly upset and caused distress to staff members at Kensington Palace. In August 2024, NewsNation claimed Meghan and Harry had seen 18 employees leave between their time in the U.K. and the U.S. (they launched Archewell Foundation in 2020), with a source attributing the “churn and burn” rate to Meghan’s perceived “unbearable” and “condescending” behavior.

However, several former and current staff members refuted these reports. Speaking to Us in September 2024, former head of content Ben Browning, who secured the couple’s Harry & Meghan documentary for Netflix prior to his departure in 2023, described his experience working for the couple as “positive and supportive.”

He added, “We all remain friends. The narratives we’ve seen suggesting the contrary are inaccurate.”