Latest news with #DukeandDuchessofSussex
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Communications Team Expands As Sussex Team Hires Method Communications To Assist In Efforts
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex seen during the Duke and Duchess of ... More Sussex's Colombia visit on August 15, 2024. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images) As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's business and philanthropic efforts continue to expand, Forbes has learned that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's communications team is growing, adding Method Communications as an extension of the already established Sussex communications team, a source close to the matter tells me. The team from Method was retained by Meredith Maines, who serves as the couple's first chief communications officer following her appointment in February of this year. The source says that Method will help support Harry and Meghan's growing business portfolio and philanthropic interests and that the Sussex team is strategically building out communications efforts surrounding Harry and Meghan. In addition to the hiring of Maines earlier this year, Emily Robinson was recently brought on board as the Duke and Duchess's Director of Communications. Robinson has 20 years' experience in entertainment publicity, brand development and strategic communications and previously spent a decade at Netflix—a company with which Harry and Meghan have a close business relationship, inking a deal with the streaming service in 2020. Prior to Netflix, Robinson held communication roles at A&E Networks, Discovery/TLC, VH1 and Bravo, leading campaigns across both scripted and unscripted programming. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby ... More Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo byfor W+P) 'The expanded comms support for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex comes at a time of tremendous growth and success in various business and philanthropic endeavors,' the insider shares, pointing specifically to Meghan's lifestyle brand As Ever's April launch, which sold out the brand's first eight product offerings in 45 minutes. With Love, Meghan—the Duchess's most recent Netflix offering—released its first season in March with a second season 'greenlit and coming soon,' the source shares. Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan's podcast with Lemonada Media, wrapped up its first season earlier this week (with a bonus episode featuring Tina Knowles to be released on June 3). Harry, for his part, is continuing to 'focus on the intersection of business and philanthropy' and, as Meghan has done with aplomb throughout 2025, appears to have developments on this front up his sleeve, as there will be 'more announcements on that front coming soon.' Harry continues to support the Invictus Games—which he founded in 2014 as a multisport event for injured, sick and wounded servicemen and servicewomen, both veterans and those still serving—and Travalyst, which Harry founded in 2019 to come up with sustainable solutions to travel and which he traveled this week to Shanghai, China to advance the organization's mission of supporting sustainable tourism. Harry gave the keynote address at Envision 2025 Conference in the city on May 26, where he rallied industry leaders in the Asia-Pacific market, valued at $490 billion, to adopt practices aligning with critical 2030 climate goals. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on October 17, 2018 in Dubbo, Australia. ... More (Photo by Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images) '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 couple says. '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 an an extension of that team." In addition to Maines and Robinson, the Sussex communications team also includes senior level communications executives Kyle Boulia and Charlie Gipson, who are based in Los Angeles and London, respectively. According to Axios—which broke the news of the hiring of Maines ahead of her March start date—Maines said she was excited to help Harry and Meghan 'tell their story as entrepreneurs, builders and philanthropists while overseeing all communications for the couple and their ventures.' Other recent staffing changes for the Sussexes include the hiring of Sarah Fosmo as Chief of Staff to Meghan and the promotion of Miranda Barbot to Chief of Staff for Harry.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Harry's new 'royal' court in...California: Staff shake-up and a fresh role for prince as Sussexes attempt to rebuild their brand
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have created their own 'royal' household, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The couple, who left their roles as senior royals in 2020, have dramatically revamped the structure of their staff to make it more like the hierarchical system that has successfully underpinned Prince Harry 's family for decades. Meredith Kendall Maines, a seasoned communications strategist whose role has already drawn comparisons with Sir Clive Alderton, the formidable Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla, will be at the helm of a team of 11, operating out of Montecito, California, and the UK. The new operation will be run separately to Archewell, the Sussexes' philanthropic foundation. The MoS can reveal the restructuring, which will see each senior appointee reportedly earning a six-figure salary, will include: The duke and duchess each having their own chief of staff; Harry launching his own as-yet-undisclosed commercial venture in the next few months; Meghan's lifestyle business, As Ever, expanding its range of products later this year. The duke, 40, is said to have been growing increasingly weary of the negative publicity he and Meghan have attracted, particularly in the UK where he has been fighting several legal cases over his privacy and security. The couple, who celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary last week, are said to be keen to rehabilitate their reputations after several damaging blows to their popularity in poll ratings. In Prince Harry's case, he deepened the rift with his father, King Charles, during a BBC interview earlier this month following his failed court bid to reinstate his UK security, claiming the decision was a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up'. Meanwhile, critics of Meghan, 43, have described her latest business and broadcasting projects as 'unrelatable' and 'out of touch'. Last night a source told this newspaper: 'A Royal Household-style structure will give them both a streamlined framework that has been missing since they left the Royal Family. 'The recent polling showing that [Harry] is one of the lowest-regarded royals means he has at last conceded there's nowhere to go but up. 'There's humility there. It's time to streamline his operation and find a new way of getting his message across. Service above oneself is the cornerstone of everything he does.' Previously, the Sussexes relied on informal advisers but the hope is that by following the same trusted methods as the monarchy they will be able to safeguard their reputation and build their business and philanthropic interests. One of the first tasks of the operation will be to mastermind the launch of Harry's own commercial venture as he attempts to find new 'purpose' after stepping away from his African charity, Sentebale, amid bullying accusations by its chair. Erin Grant is hired from Method Communications, a Silicon Valley PR firm that works with tech 'disruptors'. She will act as a liaison between the household and Meghan's As Ever lifestyle brand. She specialises in 'brand storytelling' and consumer engagement While it is understood the prince will continue to focus on the Invictus Games Foundation, he is also said to have 'commercial ideas of his own' – the details of which will be revealed later this year. A source said: 'Harry is unkindly described as the 'spare' to Meghan's endeavours. 'In reality, he has been giving her the space to flourish. Now it is his time to throw himself into exciting new work. 'Invictus will always come first, but he has also been working on commercial ideas of his own.' The new household will also help steer Meghan's business, As Ever, as it prepares to launch new products alongside its sold-out range of jams and teas. Reporting directly to Ms Maines will be Meghan and Harry's two new chiefs of staff. Miranda Barbot, a veteran political and media adviser who helped re-elect US President Barack Obama in 2012, will work solely for Harry. First hired by the Sussexes in 2022, she is already a trusted hand and masterminded their successful three-day trip to Nigeria last year, which was said to have been 'controlled skilfully'. Sarah Fosmo, a former aide to Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, will focus her efforts on supporting Meghan. The 45-year-old, whose appointment was announced this month, will oversee a 'dynamic period of growth' for the duchess, who is rolling out another series of her Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, adding further products to As Ever and continuing to produce episodes for her podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder. Intriguingly, long-term aide James Holt, who featured in the couple's Heart of Invictus Netflix docuseries, will not be a part of the new household but will remain in charge of Archewell. Liam Maguire – who, like Harry, is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst – will take on a senior UK-based role, and will be the man in charge of the prince's media relations at home. Mr Maguire managed the press for the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014 and led the agency team which supported the Invictus Games Foundation in 2018. He also accompanied the couple on their first overseas royal tour to Australia the same year. Charlie Gipson, previously a PR manager for Pedigree Chum and Mars and until recently the Sussexes' primary UK press officer, will work alongside Mr Maguire under the restructure. Mr Maguire's counterpart in the United States will be Kyle Boulia, formerly of Hollywood's United Talent Agency, who joined Archewell last year as its director of communications. Since then he has quietly transitioned into working solely for the new Sussex household. Elsewhere, three staff members – Clay Blackham, Erin Grant and Casey Adams – have been recruited from Method Communications, a Silicon Valley agency known for working with 'challenger brands', to serve as intermediaries between the Sussex household and As Ever. As Ever is now run under the umbrella of the household by Melissa Kalimov, a branding expert previously with New York cold-brew coffee brand Rise. It is understood that she is currently working to address delays in the supply chain after all eight of Meghan's debut products – including a boxed pancake mix, raspberry spread and edible flower sprinkles – sold out within an hour and have yet to be restocked. A series of new projects and initiatives are also set to be rolled out in the months ahead. News of the changes comes after People magazine reported that the duchess is going through 'a period of immense change and growth in her career'. A source said: 'With Love, Meghan has performed really well and the Sussexes plan to continue growing their relationship with Netflix. There will be more As Ever products, projects and appearances to come from the Sussex household.' The duke and duchess will no doubt hope it also eases longstanding scrutiny about their high staff turnover, which has seen multiple senior aides departing between 2018 and 2021. One insider said: 'The new household structure will help address this perception of 'churn'. 'From now on, there'll be a fixed number of roles, clearly defined, just like the Royal Household. People will still come and go – that's natural.' Last night, a spokesman for the couple said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have retained the support of Method Communications to support their growing business portfolio and philanthropic interests.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The 'perfect alibi' Jason Knauf used to get out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's trip to Australia
or many Australians, the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Sydney on October 14, 2018, was cause for great excitement. Not only did it mark Harry and Meghan's first major international tour since their wedding but it also came shortly after the Palace announced Meghan Markle's pregnancy.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How Meghan Markle broke Royal protocol on her wedding day to Prince Harry, including swearing after the ceremony
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary today, one thing that has remained constant is that they are not afraid to stray from convention. Harry didn't ask Meghan's father for permission to marry her, Meghan walked down part of the aisle alone and the ceremony was a fusion of two cultures. The Duchess's 'fairytale wedding' at St George's Chapel couldn't have been more different from royal weddings of the past, with guests calling it the most diverse major event in Queen Elizabeth's reign. At the time MailOnline reported that Meghan had launched her own 'mini-revolution' with her multicultural and US-influenced wedding, the likes of which Britain's royals and the millions watching had never seen before. Meghan even decided to give a speech at the reception, breaking protocol. In America it is common for the couple, their best man, the maid of honour and parents to give speeches. However for British royal weddings this honour is usually reserved for the best man, the host and the groom - letting the bride off the hook. In the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the couple shared the speech in full for the first time. She read from her notes: 'Let's call this a modern fairytale. Once upon a time, there was a girl from LA. Some people called her an actress. 'And there was a guy from London. Some people called him a prince. 'All of those people didn't fully get it. Because this is the love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together.' She spoke about their first dates and their memorable trip to Botswana. 'They would love and garden and travel and laugh, and rack up more air miles than any couple could have,' she added. 'I've always valued independence. I've always been outspoken, especially about women's rights, and that's the sad irony of the last four years, I've advocated for so long for women to use their voice. And then I was silent.' Meghan certainly was not silent about the issues she faced within the Royal Family following the wedding. Their relations have been strained since she started dating Harry in the summer of 2016, growing more tense after the wedding and then finally reaching a breaking point after 'Megxit' in 2020. Charles and Meghan's relationship started off strong, with reports that he was acting as her 'mentor' by educating her on royal and constitutional history as they shared an interest in history, art and culture. He also supported their move to Frogmore, paying out tens of thousands of pounds on fixtures and fittings for their new home, and allowed them to split away from William and Kate at Kensington Palace and establish their own court. But Charles was reportedly left 'deeply hurt' by Meghan and Harry's tell-all interview with Oprah in 2021, where she claimed 'concerns' had been raised over their child Archie's skin colour. At the end of her speech she declared, 'nothing can break us' and said that their love was a 'fighter'. Royal biographers Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie wrote in their book Finding Freedom: 'The bride took her moment at the mic to express her appreciation to the Queen for warmly welcoming her into the fold from the start. 'Charles got his own thank you for stepping in to fill the role of her father in escorting her down the aisle and for his courtesy in helping her mother through unfamiliar territory. 'Doria [Meghan's mother] too, was thanked for her support and wisdom. The bulk of her praise, though, went to Harry, the prince she had been fixed up with by chance and who continued to shatter her every expectation.' MailOnline reported at the time that Meghan's short speech was yet another part of her modernising mini-revolution of the Royal Family because royal brides usually leave it to the groom to address guests. The union between Harry and Meghan, a former actress and divorcee, would always stray from convention. Even before the nuptials had begun, Harry made it clear he would not be asking Meghan's father's permission to marry - even if he had to get his grandmother's approval. The actual wedding day happened on a Saturday, swerving the royal convention to have weddings on weekdays. But this rule has been broken before - including when Charles and Camilla moved the date of their wedding to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005. Despite being an Anglican church service it had a distinctly American feel, with a US bishop delivering a passionate address that appeared to make some royals snigger and a gospel choir filling the chapel with music from Ben E. King and Etta James. And perhaps most surprisingly, Meghan let her guard down during a carriage ride through crowds in Windsor after the wedding, seeming to forget she was being watched from every angle. She is believed to have said 'oh f***', which is obviously not the level of decorum expected from royals in public. Charles walked Meghan part of the way down the aisle, which he was more than happy to do. But Meghan decided to walk the rest of the way herself to prove a point of her independence. As the Duke and Duchess celebrate seven years of marriage, they are likely to reflect on how their union challenged centuries old custom and tradition that their predecessors dare not confront.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Different goals', family feuds & ‘nothing in common'… can embattled Harry & Meghan survive the dreaded 7 year itch?
THEY shared a look of love on their wedding day in 2018 and have been through enough drama since to last a lifetime. Fast forward to earlier this month, and Harry and Meghan looked as close as ever as they packed on the PDA watching Beyonce play in Los Angeles. 9 9 9 But in business, it seems the couple may have entered the era of the dreaded Seven Year Itch, as their careers head in different directions. The move has sparked wild rumours about their marriage. And today, on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's seventh wedding anniversary, insiders admit to The Sun that the pair have gone on a so-called 'professional separation'. But they insist Harry 'never looks at another woman' and say they would be 'stunned' if the couple ever split romantically. Nevertheless, they do seem to have different goals, with former Suits actress Meghan dreaming of the high life, believing she deserves it for marrying a Prince. An insider said: ' Meghan wants to be a billionaire and a celebrity, whereas Harry would be happy having a quiet life and popping out to do his charity events.' Millions rejoiced as Charles led Meghan down the aisle on May 19, 2018 to marry his youngest son. And hardly a chance is missed for the couple to share their perfect life, whether through carefully curated 'date night' Instagram snaps or Meghan telling a podcast that her hubby is a 'fox'. Meanwhile, Harry grows increasingly estranged from Britain and his family amid defeat in his High Court battle to overturn a protection downgrade since ' Megxit ', when he and Meghan quit as working royals and relocated to the US. 'Very different' A shock BBC interview in which he hinted his father could facilitate a fix to his security issues no doubt dealt a further blow to any prospect of reconciliation as the Monarch juggles royal duties with a cancer diagnosis. Meghan's got it all WRONG - She's shown us the real her but we HATE it Insisting he can't see how Meg and his children could ever return to the UK, Harry told the Beeb: 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands. Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him.' At the same time, Meghan's podcast and cookery endeavours are being widely lampooned. Harry's behaviour is unlikely to endear him to royal relatives or the public. In fact, a recent YouGov poll shows that only disgraced Prince Andrew is less popular than the California couple. Earlier this year, Harry and Meghan looked inseparable amid a supportive crowd in Canada at the Duke's Invictus Games, yet the Duchess jetted home early, leaving her hubby to spend Valentine's Day alone. An insider said behind the scenes it seemed 'tense'. I saw first hand, at the 2023 Games in Dusseldorf, Germany, how the atmosphere in Team Sussex was far more relaxed before Meg arrived halfway through. Last September, Harry spent his 40th birthday without her as he went hiking with friends, although sources close to the couple insist Meghan organised the trip. When the couple travelled to Colombia for a faux royal tour last year, it was branded the 'Meghan show', with Harry often playing second fiddle. And while the Prince raked in millions by revealing family conversations and secrets in his best-selling memoir, Spare, Meghan has become a 'mumpreneur', with a string of major launches, from a cookery show to jam-selling business. Sources have insisted it is normal for couples not to spend all their time together, but added: 'It can appear they have very little in common in what they like or want. They are very different.' When the couple travelled to Colombia for a faux royal tour last year, it was branded the 'Meghan show', with Harry often playing second fiddle. He made one fleeting, awkward appearance in the final episode of his wife's much-derided cookery show, With Love, Meghan, appearing every inch a 'Spare'. The lovebirds are rarely seen out unless to visit friends or host dinner parties. Recently, they cosied up to Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz, bonding over shared bitter family feuds. And Harry's closest friends in California are said to be the husbands of Meghan's pals. 9 9 9 Since launching an Instagram page five months ago, the Duchess frequently shares her picture-perfect life with her 3million followers. On their recent Beyonce gig 'date night', photos portrayed a happy A-list celebrity couple as secure today as they were when Charles walked Meghan down the aisle. In carefully curated concert photos, Meg was draped over her grinning husband, who revealed his hat was inscribed with loving tributes. But as everyone who has ever used Instagram knows, it is the social media of choice to display an overly 'perfect' lifestyle. Sources do point out the pair are wonderful, loving parents to Archie, six, and three-year-old Lilibet. But it seems the youngsters may never again see either of their grandfathers. Meghan has not spoken to her dad, Thomas Markle, since he posed for paparazzi pictures ahead of her wedding. He now lives 7,000 miles from Montecito in the Philippines. And Harry's ill-advised decision to lob wild accusations at the King to the BBC, just minutes after palace sources told The Sun they believed there could be a way back for the royals, likely torpedoed a reunion. On recent trips back to the UK, the moaning Duke has dropped in at a pal's house to have a Deliveroo and was caught on doorbell cameras knocking at multiple homes saying he was 'looking for a friend'. In 2027, Harry's Invictus Games are being hosted in Birmingham. But unless there is a radical change to how he perceives his security in the UK by then, it seems unlikely that Meghan will be by his side. Having no communication with his father, or with his older brother, Prince William, Harry is becoming an increasingly isolated figure. The professional separation has seen Meghan clutching at so many different business ventures, it seems as if she is trying to grab hold of any plan that works. 'Dream turned sour' She chose fame, having always dreamed of being an actress, and enjoys sharing her lifestyle and children with the world, though she keeps Archie and Lilibet's faces hidden. Meanwhile, life in the limelight was forced on Harry due to his royal heritage and he has said he finds the sound of photographers' cameras makes his 'blood boil'. In his controversial BBC interview he claimed: 'I was born into this position, it wasn't a choice'. Both he and Meghan have given up much from their past, with Harry saying farewell to royal duties and the people of the UK who forgave his youthful indiscretions as he pursued a more discreet family life in Montecito. Elsewhere, with her acting career shelved, Meghan is championing her lifestyle brand, As Ever. Despite begging for privacy and blaming the Press for their problems, both have flocked to the media when they want to get a message out. Speaking two weeks ago to podcaster Jamie Kern Lima, the Duchess was gushing in her description of her hubby. Asked if she would be married to Harry forever, she replied, 'Yes', and said, 'He's also a fox, if you haven't noticed. My husband's very, very handsome. But his heart is even more beautiful.' She added: 'That man loves me so much and, you know, look what we've built. We have built a beautiful life and we have two healthy, beautiful children. I always think . . . at the end of Super Mario Bros, the final level, what's the goal in Super Mario? It's to slay the dragons and save the princess.' Harry never looks at another woman. He never checks anyone else out. I'd be stunned if they ever parted. Royal insider The knight in shining armour role is one Harry has always revelled in, explaining in his six-part Netflix series that he promised to protect Meghan as far back as their third date, when he took her to the Botswana bush. He stuck to that vow when their royal dream turned sour, saying that he did not want 'history to repeat itself' after his mother, Princess Diana, was pursued by photographers before her fatal car crash. Now, Harry gets to save his princess over and over again. Despite the many challenges the couple face, most of their own doing, the rumours of trouble in paradise appear to be just that — rumours. One insider told The Sun: 'Harry never looks at another woman. He never checks anyone else out. I'd be stunned if they ever parted.' There have always been whispers that, one day, this drama-seeking royal marriage will fail, and Harry will be back with his tail between his legs begging the UK and his family for forgiveness. Yet there is no desire for the Prince to return to any royal duty and the 'half-in, half-out' suggestion raised by the Sussexes before Megxit remains off the table. In 2022 Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, the Duke said: 'This is a great love story, and the craziest thing is that I think this love story is only getting started.' But he added of his wife: 'She sacrificed everything she ever knew, the freedom that she had, to join me in my world. And then pretty soon after that, I ended up sacrificing everything that I knew to join her in her world.' The question, as the couple enter Seven Year Itch territory, is how far through their love story are we — and were the sacrifices worth it? 9 9 9
