Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are experiencing a shift in their communications team as Meredith Maines, their principal publicist, exits her position after a year of service.

Us Weekly has verified that Maines is stepping down from her responsibilities as Chief Communications Officer (CCO), a role she assumed in January. Her collaboration was alongside the U.S.-based PR agency, Method Communications. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have decided to part ways with the firm after a partnership lasting seven months.

In a statement provided to Us, Maines expressed, “After an inspiring year working with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Archewell, I am looking forward to a new opportunity in 2026. I hold immense gratitude and respect for the couple, their team, and the impactful work they are championing globally.”

A spokesperson for the Sussexes remarked, “Meredith Maines and Method Communications have completed their work with Archewell. The Duke and Duchess extend their gratitude for the contributions and wish them success in their future endeavors.”

While public opinion often swirls around Meghan Markle, her true essence is best understood by those closest to her. In a recent feature by Us Weekly, Meghan’s friends and colleagues shared insights into her life behind the scenes. Maines, in her role as CCO for the Duke and Duchess, was part of this close-knit circle […]

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.

Meghan Markle’s staffers are coming to her defense. After the Hollywood Reporter published a piece alleging her “terrible” behavior as the reason for the high turnover among her and Prince Harry’s team, current and former employees (five on the record) have come forward to set the record straight exclusively to Us Weekly. While the Duchess […]

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.”