The chief communications officer to Prince Harry and Meghan, Meredith Maines, has stepped down after less than a year in the role, becoming the 11th publicist to have left their job with the couple
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have suffered the blow of losing their 11th publicist in just five years after losing their chief communications officer.
It was revealed last week that Meredith Maines, who worked for the couple for less than a year, will be “pursuing a new opportunity” in 2026 after a year of “inspiring work” with the couple. It comes as Harry and Meghan have also parted ways with US-based PR agency Method Communications, which was hired in June this year to promote the couple’s business and philanthropic endeavours.
According to her LinkedIn, Maines started working as chief communications officer (CCO) for the Sussexes in March 2025. She wrote that as CCO, she oversees “all external communications” for Harry and Meghan.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex(Image: PA)
This includes Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever, launched in April this year; their media production company, Archewell Productions; and their joint charity, Archewell Philanthropies. But since news of her stepping down, it appears a briefing war has erupted, with some saying Ms Maines’s leaving comes after the bungled handling of a row over deleted photos of the Sussexes after they attended a party thrown by the Kardashians.
While others have said she is leaving on a high, having helped Harry reunited with the King in September. Back in July, a photo of Ms Maines, alongside the King’s communications secretary Tobyn Andreae on the balcony of a private members club in London, led many to believe a reunion between estranged father and son would be on the cards.
And in fact when Harry came to the UK for a series of charity visits in September, the pair managed to fit in a 55-minute tea with each other at Clarence House. However, just weeks later, the Sussexes found themselves at the centre of a storm after photos of them at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party seemingly disappeared from Instagram.
Meredith Maines has left her role as chief communications officer(Image: Linkedin)
Snaps from inside the glitzy party, attended by the whole Kardashian clan, were posted on social media by Kris as well as her daughter, Kim. They showed Harry and Meghan, dressed in all black as part of the event’s James Bond theme, dancing with Kris, while another showed Meghan posing alongside Kim.
But they were quickly deleted, with reports suggesting Harry and Meghan had signed a no photo consent form before the bash, but this was rejected by the Kardashian camp, who denied there had been forms, and said there had been a request to take the snaps down.
Harry and Meghan on a trip to New York in October (Image: Getty Images)
One source told the Daily Mail: “Her tenure has been an absolute disaster. If she did in fact quit then she’s getting out to save face before it gets worse… She’s telling others that she is helping with the transition but this does not scream amicable to me.”
However, another hit back and said: “She really enjoyed her time there but at a certain point it is time to go… They begged her to stay to manage the transition of the Archewell Foundation and other transitions. She stayed to do that.
“Meredith feels that she has done what she set out to do. She launched the show and the brand and the website. She also got Harry to meet with his father in September, which was a priority that they set out to achieve.”
A spokesman for Harry and Meghan confirmed she was leaving her role, and said: “A spokesman for the couple said: “Meredith Maines and Method Communications have concluded their work with Archewell. The duke and duchess are grateful for their contributions and wish them well.”
While in a statement, Ms 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.”
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