Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Communications Chief Resigns After Under a Year

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; Meredith Maines.
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Key Details

• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, has departed after her hiring was announced in late February
• Leadership in communications will now fall under Liam Maguire, the Sussexes’ UK and Europe director of communications
• This exit follows a trend of turnover within the Sussexes’ communications team over recent years

Meredith Maines has stepped down as chief communications officer for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, marking the end of her approximately 10-month tenure in the role. The couple confirmed this transition in a statement.

Maines was appointed the first chief communications officer for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in late February 2025, officially starting her role in March. In this capacity, she was responsible for managing communications across their nonprofit initiatives, business ventures, and broader public profile.

A spokesperson for the couple confirmed to PEOPLE, saying, “Meredith Maines and Method Communications have concluded their work with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Duke and Duchess are grateful for their contributions and wish them well.”

Maines expressed her gratitude in a statement, noting, “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.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Oct. 2025.

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Maines’ exit is part of ongoing turnover within the Sussexes’ communications team. This trend has seen several publicists leave since the couple stepped back as working royals in 2020 and moved to the United States.

Notable departures include Ashley Hansen, who resigned a year ago after two years as global press secretary to start her own consultancy, and other staff members such as Charlie Gipson and Kyle Boulia, who left earlier this summer. Emily Robinson, who previously served at Netflix, also exited her role as director of communications after four months in October.

Maines primarily collaborated with Method Communications, the external agency assisting Meghan and Harry’s communications. Liam Maguire, remaining in his role as the Sussexes’ UK and Europe director of communications, has primarily managed Prince Harry’s communications.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Game 4 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays on Oct. 28, 2025.

Joe Scarnici/MLB Photos via Getty

Upon her appointment, Maines expressed her enthusiasm, stating she was “honored to partner” with the couple to share their journey as “entrepreneurs, builders and philanthropists while overseeing all communications for the couple and their ventures.”

Before joining the Sussexes, Maines had an extensive background in communications, having worked at Google, led communications at Hulu, and served as a talent manager for *American Idol*. Most recently, she was affiliated with Lightspeed Venture Partners.

A meeting earlier this year in London between Maines, Liam Maguire, and King Charles’ director of communications, Tobyn Andreae, was seen as a potential opportunity for enhancing relations between the two communications teams. This meeting occurred just months before Prince Harry’s brief reunion with his father, King Charles, in September.

A source within the communications industry noted initial curiosity regarding Maines’ appointment, given her background in tech, consumer PR, and venture capital, which differs from the typical communications strategies employed for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

While it seems a new agency is prepared to replace Method Communications, it is not anticipated that the couple will hire another chief communications officer. Instead, Maguire is expected to expand his role as the lead communications director.