MEGHAN and Harry have lost yet another chief publicist this time after a year – plus their entire external PR consultancy firm.
Meredith Maines, who was announced as Chief Communications Officer (CCO) in January, is stepping down, The Sun can reveal.
And the Sussexes have parted ways with US-based Method Communications PR consultants after just seven months.
Meredith was famously photographed with King’s director of communications Tobyn Andreae on a balcony at a Mayfair private members club with The Sussexes UK and Europe communications director Liam Maguire, who retains his post.
She is believed to be the eleventh publicist to leave the Sussexes since they stepped down as working royals and moved to the US in 2020.
Method Communications were appointed earlier this year and describe themselves as “disruptors” who “challenge the status quo”.
A spokesman 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.”
Meredith 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 they are doing in the world.”
It is believed an agency has been found to replace Method Communications to support Harry and Meghan in the US.
The couple are not expected to recruit another CCO to replace Meredith Maines and will use Liam Maguire, the UK and Europe director of communications, as lead instead.
A source said: “There were a few eyebrows raised when Method and Meredith were retained given their heavy experience background in tech and venture capitalism, especially given the work of the couple”.
Just months after the couple signed a ‘first look’ deal with streaming giants Netflix despite critics panning cookery series ‘With Love, Meghan’.
The couple are listed as executive producers for documentary Cookie Queens, on Netflix next year.
This year Meghan has also launched her Instagram handle and rebranded a lifestyle company ‘As Ever’.
The move comes as Harry could be aiming to spend more time in the UK as he will next month receive his first Ravec security assessment in five years despite losing a High Court case for armed security.
A year ago, global press secretary Ashley Hansen stepped down to start her own consultancy firm after a two-year tenure running the couple’s PR.
This summer, three communications officers, including UK-based Charlie Gipson, California-based Kyle Boulia, were given the boot.
Emily Robinson, who was appointed director of communications and previously worked at Netflix, left in October after just four months.
Harry and Meghan have been blighted by allegations they are difficult to work for.
Buckingham Palace launched an investigation into claims Meghan had “bullied” her staff when she was a working royal.
Former communications chief to the couple Jason Knauf had passed on allegations to William’s private secretary that two personal assistants had been driven out due to bullying.
Staff would on occasion be reduced to tears and one aide fearing a row with Meghan told a colleague “I can’t stop shaking”, The Times reported.
One described being “humiliated” by Meghan and another said she suffered “emotional cruelty and manipulation”.
Ex-staff dubbed themselves the ‘Sussex Survivors Club’.
Meghan Markle denied the allegations and branded it a “calculated smear campaign”.
Despite launching an investigation the palace has not released its bullying report into Meghan.
Last year, The Hollywood Reporter reignited the row after speaking to a source who said staff in the US were “terrified” of Meghan and described Harry as an “enabler”.
The source told them: “She marches around like a dictator in high heels, fuming and barking orders.
“I’ve watched her reduce grown men to tears.”
And added: “Everyone’s terrified of Meghan. She belittles people, she doesn’t take advice.
“They’re both poor decision-makers, they change their minds frequently. Harry is a very, very charming person – no airs at all – but he’s very much an enabler. And she’s just terrible.”
Several former and current staff came out in support of the couple including former Chief of Staff Josh Kettler who told US Weekly that he was “warmly welcomed” by both of them and their Archewell team, adding: “They are dedicated and hardworking. It was impressive to witness.”
Society bible Vanity Fair revisited bullying row in January with his 8,000-word takedown of the couple with the headline ‘American Hustle’.
It quoted an insider saying Meghan could be “really, really awful”.
This year, Meghan launched her Instagram handle and had to rebrand her lifestyle company to ‘As Ever’ after trademark blunders with American Riviera Orchard.
Despite high viewing figures her cookery show ‘With Love, Meghan’ was savaged by TV critics both sides of the Atlantic.
Harry risked torpedoing his hopes of reconciliation with his dad after an outspoken attack after losing his High Court case wanting armed protection in May.
He met the King for the first time in 22 months at Clarence House during a trip back to the UK in September to appear at several patronages and charities.
But aides blasted ‘men in grey suits‘ he claimed were sabotaging his hopes of reconciliation after The Sun revealed Harry had joked his face-to-face with his dad was like an “official visit” and handed a framed photo of his children as a present.
