Latest news with #MeredithMaines
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The Palace's meeting with Meghan's 'cheerleader' chief of communications who 'loves Wills and Kate' could mark the beginning of a period of reconciliation within the Royal Family, expert claims
In her now notorious response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's interview with Oprah the late Queen Elizabeth II said 'recollections may vary'. Now, in the aftermaths of last week's bombshell meeting between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's communications secretary and the King's aide recollections between the two camps are once again varied. On Monday, MailOnline revealed that Harry and Meghan denied leaking details of the rendezvous between Meghan's 'cheerleader' head of comms Meredith Maines and the King's communications secretary Tobyn Andreae in London on Wednesday July 9. Meghan and her current PR guru share some unlikely parallels within both their personal and professional lives. Both of them are working mothers from California who cut their teeth working within Hollywood's entertainment industry. Both are also lovers of horses with Maines having joined the Equestrian Team while studying at Stanford University and Meghan who has taken a keen interest in Polo in recent years. Interestingly, the PR guru is something of a royalist. In 2011 Maines took to X - formerly Twitter - on the day before Prince William and Kate Middleton 's wedding to declare that she planned to watch 'eight hours of Royal Wedding coverage'. After the wedding she also claimed to have 'over-indulged' in the event. It is not known whether it was Charles or Harry who arranged the 'peace talks' between Maines and Andreae but pictures of the two sides enjoying drinks raised hopes of a reconciliation. Both Harry, 40, and his father, 76, are said to be keen to reconcile, especially after the King was diagnosed with cancer last year. But, Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that pictures of the extraordinary meeting were published in The Mail on Sunday and sources close to Prince Harry have insisted the Sussexes were not responsible for passing details of the meeting on to the newspaper. While who approached whom has not been confirmed, The Times reported that Maines did not have instructions from the Sussexes to meet with representatives from Prince William but Buckingham Palace was contacted. From what details are available, it is clear that Harry and Meghan might be trying to heal rifts with the Royal Family that have existed since the couple stepped down as working royals in 2020. Speaking to MailOnline, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said: 'Harry and Meghan reportedly initiated this meeting, as it is clear that any contact with the Royal Family which could have positive connotations is pivotal to them as they have nothing else to offer. They want to be associated with 'reconciliation', yet previously have been so destructive. Nevertheless Fitzwilliams pointed out that the leaked meeting was still 'extremely controversial.' He added: 'The motives of both parties, who knew, who leaked it and whether Prince William was aware of it as he obviously should have been, are currently matters which are hotly debated.' Harry and Meghan's pivot back towards the royals became clear earlier this year when the Duke and Duchess dramatically revamped the structure of their staff to make it more like the hierarchical system more closely associated with Buckingham Palace - and one which Harry is more accustom to. This included the hiring of 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, was placed at the helm of a team of 11, operating out of Montecito, California, and the UK. She has also taken on the title of 'head of household' which is more traditionally associated with the Palace. Speaking about Maines, Fitzwilliams said: 'Meredith Maines joined the Sussexes earlier this year. She is the most senior aide in the arrangement nicknamed 'the Sussex Royal Household', formed in June, which was reportedly intended to resemble the structure Harry used to work with when he was a senior working royal.' Harry and Meghan hired Maines in February ahead of the launch of her Netflix series - With Love, Meghan - and her lifestyle brand As Ever. Before she worked for the Sussexes, Maines was previously head of communications for the streaming giant Hulu and she worked for Google before that. Her time working with Harry and Meghan got off to a somewhat bumpy start following Harry's interview with the BBC and the launch of Meghan's latest businesses ventures. Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'It has been claimed that Maines was the chief architect of Harry's recent BBC interview after he lost his case over security. It was reportedly going to be relatively short, instead it went on for over half an hour. 'He came across as angry, fearful as he saw plots against him and his family, especially from courtiers and he was contradictory about his father's role in denying him and his family automatic police security.' He added: 'It has been claimed that after she joined Team Sussex in February, she was behind the unveiling of Meghan's much panned cookery programme With Love, Meghan, the second series of which is yet to be released, and her attempt to be an influencer, As Ever, her lifestyle brand, which is of the utmost significance as Netflix are partners and the Sussexes need their contract with the streaming giant to be renewed.' The bad publicity from these ventures coupled with several damaging blows to their popularity in a poll rating in part underpins why Harry and Meghan are said to be keen to rehabilitate their reputations. Attempts to heal rifts with both the Royal Family and the British public could not come at a better time for Harry with the 2027 Invictus Games set to take place in Birmingham. The Daily Telegraph reported last week that the Royal Family would be 'very much welcome' at the event and that Prince Harry is expected to invite King Charles III and other family members to the games. With this in mind, last week's meeting could be the start of a period of reconciliation between both camps after five years of bitterness between the Palace and the Sussexes.
Spectator
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
King Charles and Harry won't be reconciling any time soon
The news that appeared in the Sunday newspapers was intriguing, to say the least. A meeting has taken place at (appropriately enough) the Royal Over-Seas League club between Meredith Maines, the latest in Prince Harry's apparently endless line of California-based press officers, Liam Maguire, who has that similarly thankless task in this country, and Tobyn Andrae, who acts as the King's communications secretary. A well-briefed source told the Mail on Sunday, not sparing the clichés, that 'there's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years'. Stressing that 'there was no formal agenda, just casual drinks', the clubland equivalent of Deep Throat reflected that 'there were things both sides wanted to talk about'. Suspicion immediately arose that the news of this encounter had been deliberately leaked by Camp Sussex in an attempt to suggest that Harry wanted to build bridges with his father, and that this was a first tentative step in such an initiative. This would hardly have been surprising. The Sussex PR operation is hardly known for its Garbo-like recalcitrance. Its willingness to brief newspapers on often sensitive, even embarrassing, topics has meant that Buckingham Palace is often driven to distraction. Such remarks as how the meeting was only the 'first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father, but at least it is a step in the right direction', and that 'everyone just wants to move on and move forward now. It was finally the right time for the two sides to talk' appeared to suggest that there was an element of blame on both sides. Many would disagree with this, but still, if the Gallagher brothers could overcome their differences in pursuit of their mutual goals, surely the King and his younger son might find their own accord for rather more principled and less mercenary reasons. However, any positive effects that came out of last week's meeting have been almost immediately jeopardised by the leak, which Team Sussex has loudly insisted that it is not behind. They are claiming that it was not in their, or anyone else's interests, to have such a delicate negotiation splashed over the newspaper front pages. For once, something coming out of Montecito seems possible; it does, indeed, make no sense to have thrust something like this into the public domain. Yet many other antics of Harry and Meghan's have also been similarly nonsensical, and so there will be many who will think that this has been a piece of duplicity, firstly dangling a story like this in front of hungry newspaper editors, and then snatching it back with feigned outrage that anyone could ever have been prepared to print such a thing. Few will be convinced that this is the beginning of a renewed bond between father and son, given everything that has happened. (Tellingly, neither the Prince of Wales's private secretary nor press officer were present, suggesting that fraternal reconciliation has not even been discussed as an idea.) The current hope is that the King will be invited to the Invictus games in Birmingham in 2027 and that this will be an opportunity for him publicly to reconcile with Harry, whom he has not seen since February last year. Theoretically, this makes a good deal of sense – on all parts – and there will be many at Buckingham Palace, and beyond, who would like to see such a harmonious meeting take place, with a view to putting this prolonged squabble to bed. Yet as we have all seen, an awful, awful lot can happen over the next two years. Even those who are hoping that last weekend's story does herald a renewed bond between father and son may have to be prepared to be grievously disappointed all over again.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry's Secret Weapon: The Unexpected Force Behind Royal Peace Talks
Is a royal family reunion on the horizon? It looks like something is in the works, at least according to The Mail on Sunday. Last week, Prince Harry's chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, emerged as his secret weapon after meeting with King Charles III's communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae. The Sussexes' PR representative in the U.K., Liam Maguire, was also present for the meeting at the Royal Over-Seas League in London, per the media outlet. More from SheKnows Rosie O'Donnell's Response to Donald Trump's Threats Hints at the Deeper Root of Their Feud It was Maines who had the Duke of Sussex speak to the BBC in May, where Charles' youngest son was very clear about being open to mending the palace rift. He told them that he 'would love a reconciliation' with his dad and older brother, Prince William. Harry admitted that he was tired of fighting, and he worried about Charles' health because he did 'not know how much longer [his] father has.' With the security issue still a sticking point, it seems that Maines might be paving the way for a reconciliation. A source for The Mail on Sunday believed that the meeting with royal reps was only 'the first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father, but at least it is a step in the right direction. 'Everyone just wants to move on and move forward now,' they added. 'It was finally the right time for the two sides to talk.' Maines, who began working with Harry and Meghan Markle in March of this year, has proven her worth on the Archewell and As Ever team. She's had significant wins with the success of the Duchess of Sussex's brand launch, along with her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. She shared her excitement about joining the stateside royals in a statement to Axios in late February. 'I'm honored to partner with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to highlight the amazing work they are doing through Archewell, their broader business portfolio, and nonprofit work,' Maines said. 'I'm excited to help them tell their story as entrepreneurs, builders, and philanthropists, while overseeing all communications for the couple and their ventures.' She has also been streamlining the couple's business team, noting to People in June that Harry and Meghan had parted ways with four employees. 'As the Duke and Duchess's business and philanthropic interests grow, I have made the strategic decision to move toward a more traditional communications structure of specialist agency support, as previously reported in Forbes and PR Week several weeks ago,' she said. Maines continued, 'Transitioning from a team of two to an agency support staff of eight, operating across five different time zones, will give international media and stakeholders better access, and critically, faster response times to inquiries.' The PR specialist might be the key to Harry and Meghan finding their footing, not only professionally, but personally. If a royal family reunion comes to fruition, then Maines will have pulled off a palace of SheKnows Every Single Look Kate Middleton Has Worn to Wimbledon Since 2007 Every Single Time Kate Middleton's Royal Fashion Made Us Stop in Our Tracks 56 Times Celeb Women Rocked Their Gorgeous Gray Hair on the Red Carpet
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry and King Charles' top aides secretly meet in bid to mend royal rift: report
As the rift between Prince Harry and King Charles lll continues to seemingly intensify, senior aides from both sides reportedly met in an effort to begin restoring the broken relationship. According to The Mail on Sunday, Meredith Maines — the Duke of Sussex's chief of staff and communications director — flew from Montecito, Calif. to London to meet with King Charles' communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae, on Wednesday. Liam Maguire, who oversees U.K. press for Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, was also present. "There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years," a source told The Mail. "There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about." The informal meeting was reportedly held at the Royal Over-Seas League, a private members' club. King Charles, Prince Harry's Painful Feud 'Damaging' Monarch's Reign As Gutted Son Remains Furious: Expert The source said the meeting was only the "first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father, but at least it is a step in the right direction." Read On The Fox News App "Everyone just wants to move on and move forward now. It was finally the right time for the two sides to talk," the source added. Fox News Digital has learned that Maines was in London to meet with the UK-based communications team, media, stakeholders and senior figures connected to the Duke's patronages. The visit was entirely routine and part of ongoing planning and engagement. King Charles' Rift With Prince Harry Deepens As Queen Camilla Refuses To Intervene: Experts Representatives for Buckingham Palace and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The peace summit comes weeks after Harry told the BBC that he'd "love reconciliation" with his family. "There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," he said. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter The rift between Prince Harry and King Charles ignited after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's royal exit as senior members in 2020. After their move to California, the couple began to air their grievances in interviews and documentaries. Harry's 2023 memoir, which detailed embarrassing revelations about the House of Windsor, only worsened tensions with his family. In televised interviews to promote the book, Harry accused his stepmother, Queen Camilla, of leaking private conversations to the media to burnish her own reputation. He accused members of the royal family of getting "into bed with the devil" to gain favorable tabloid coverage, singling out Camilla's efforts to rehabilitate her image with the public after her longtime affair with his father. "That made her dangerous because of the connections that she was forging within the British press," Harry told CBS. "There was open willingness on both sides to trade information. And with a family built on hierarchy, and with her on the way to being queen consort, there was going to be people or bodies left in the street." Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner recently told Fox News Digital that Harry's comments about Camilla were a major blow to the king and likely one of the reasons why he iced his son out. "It is well known that King Charles can become very upset and hot under the collar," said Pelham Turner. "Certainly, Charles is upset about remarks made … about Camilla. She has used the code of silence on the subject, similar to her own experiences while there were three in the marriage, as stated by Princess Diana." Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told recently People magazine that there has been a desire to reconnect on Charles's side, but "the underlying issue is trust." "The king and Prince William don't trust Harry and Meghan with any kind of confidential conversation," she said. Insiders told the outlet that William, in particular, "has shown no interest in extending an olive branch." Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco and Ashley Papa contributed to this post. Original article source: Prince Harry and King Charles' top aides secretly meet in bid to mend royal rift: report
Forbes
30-05-2025
- 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.
