Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s chief publicist, Meredith Maines, is stepping down from her role after one year in the job.
Us Weekly can confirm that Maines will no longer work for the Sussexes in her role as .Chief Communications Officer (CCO), which she began in January. Maines worked in conjunction with US-based PR firm, Method Communications. The Sussexes have cut ties with the consultants after seven months.
“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,” Maines said in a statement to Us. I have the utmost gratitude and respect for the couple and the team, and the good work they are doing in the world.”
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex 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.”
Meanwhile, a source praised Maines’ skills, exclusively telling Us on Friday, December 26 that Maines is “best in class.”
“Anyone who has worked with Meredith knows she’s best in class — she’s no nonsense, highly strategic and has done it all. They’ve accomplished a ton over the past year and it’s time for what’s next,” the source said.
In May, Forbes reported that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, added Method Communications to their communications team as they continued to grow their careers and community efforts.
“Chief Communications Officer Meredith Maines has retained the global firm Method Communications to bolster her team overseeing the growing business portfolio and philanthropic efforts 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 tech 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 stop working for the couple in the past five years since Meghan and Harry stepped away from the British Royal Family in 2020.
Her exit comes after the couple’s director of communications, Emily Robinson, left her high-profile role after only a few months on the job in October.
“Ms. Robinson oversaw project-based work for a very successful 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 did an excellent job and completed these projects with great success.”
Robinson joined Meghan and husband Prince Harry’s team in June after a previous stint doing publicity for Netflix. The Times of London and People reported that Robinson left on her own accord.
In June, there was another staff shakeup when it was reported by multiple outlets that four team members had parted ways with the Sussexes.
Meghan has been accused in the past of being difficult to work for. The Times of London reported in 2021 that the Suits alum had allegedly bullied and reduced staff members to tears at Kensington Palace. In August 2024, NewsNation claimed Meghan and Harry had lost 18 employees between their time in the U.K. and the U.S. (they launched Archewell Foundation in 2020), with a source blaming an “unbearable” and “condescending” Meghan for the “churn and burn” rate.
However, several former and current staff members denied these reports. Speaking to Us in September 2024, former head of content Ben Browning, who secured the couple’s Harry & Meghan documentary Netflix prior to his exit in 2023, described his experience working for the couple as “positive and supportive.”
He added, “We all continue to be friends. The narratives we’ve seen suggesting the contrary are untrue.”
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