The Sussexes’ PR problems are back in the spotlight as 2025 draws to a close. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have faced steady blowback around launches and messaging. Now, a fresh staffing shake-up is raising questions about their public image team.
The Duke and Duchess have built a California-based brand across media and charity work. However, insiders now describe their communications operation as hard to run. Consequently, the search for the right publicist is reportedly becoming more difficult.
Sussexes’ office is ‘high-pressure,’ staffers claim, per source
As per Rob Shuter’s Substack report dated December 31, 2025, a senior U.S. publicist resigned. It says Meredith Maines quit after about 10 months in the role. A former staffer said, “The job isn’t hard because of the press,” adding, “It’s hard because of the principals.” The person claimed, “Harry and Meghan are impossible to satisfy.” They also alleged that their “expectations constantly shift.”
Meanwhile, another insider said in the report that top American PR firms are declining the account. The person claimed, “They’re difficult and, frankly, cheap.” The source argued that budgets are a sticking point for Sussex’s PR strategy. The person said, “Kardashians and Beyoncé spend a fortune on PR.” However, they claimed the couple expects the same results “for a fraction of the budget.”
With U.S. options narrowing, the report says London strategist Liam Maguire may step up. An insider said they are “cutting costs by eliminating a senior American salary.” Still, the person warned that running a U.S. operation from London brings “huge challenges.” They pointed to time zone strain and “burnout risks.”
In the Substack report, staffers also described the workplace mood as intense. One source said, “The office is high pressure, constantly shifting.” They added that it can hit “DEFCON 1 over minor issues.” Another insider said, “A competent PR can survive bad headlines.” However, they added, “They can’t survive clients who won’t listen.”
For now, the claims keep Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s PR issues in a familiar loop. If staffing stabilizes, messaging may settle, too. If it does not, the churn could stay part of the story in 2026.
Originally reported by Santanu Das on Reality Tea.
