Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Sacks all 15 of their UK staff
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Meghan Markle – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex broke the news to their team in person in January following the announcement that they were stepping down as senior working royals.
While one or two may be absorbed back into the royal household, most are now negotiating redundancy packages.
Last night Buckingham Palace said it did not comment on staffing matters but it is understood senior royals, including the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William are aware of the office closure and redundancies.
A source told the Mail: ‘Given their decision to step back, an office at Buckingham Palace is no longer needed. While the details are still being finalised and efforts are being made to redeploy people within the royal household, unfortunately, there will be some redundancies.’
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Among those to lose their jobs are the couple’s newly appointed private secretary, Fiona Mcilwham – although she is on secondment from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is likely to be found in a role in Whitehall – and their hugely experienced communications chief Sara Latham.
Harry’s long-standing programme co-ordinator Clara Loughran, who was so well regarded by the prince that she was asked to hand Meghan Markle her bouquet in church on her wedding day, will go.
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As well as Miss Latham – who previously worked for the Obamas and was Hillary Clinton’s senior campaign adviser – her deputy, assistant communications secretary Marnie Gaffney, is leaving.
A much-loved and long-serving member of Buckingham Palace press staff, she played a major role in supporting Harry on his military work and organised his and Meghan’s hugely successful official tours to Australia and Africa.
Friends said today Ms Gaffney was offered another role at Buckingham Palace, but had decided to accept the redundancy package offered.
A source said: ‘She had the option to go back to the Palace, and they wanted her to stay.
‘But she decided it was a natural ending after a decade with the royal household.
‘She will receive her settlement and is looking forward to taking on some new and different challenges’
The Queen made her a member of the Royal Victorian Order because of her devoted service.
The other press officer to lose her job is Julie Burley, who worked for Harry, William and Kate on their successful mental health campaign Heads Together.
The assistant communications secretary was headed-hunted by Harry and Meghan and led the press team on his Invictus Games. She has also managed the media side of many of the couple’s domestic engagements and patronages.
David Watkins, poached from fashion house Burberry in August as the couple’s social media expert, is also out.
The source insisted that while ‘Megxit’ had come as a complete shock to the team, most accept their fate. ‘The Duke and Duchess have a small team, less than 15 people. The team are very loyal to the Sussexes and understand and respect the decision they have taken,’ the source said.
‘They are all close and supporting each other. The team are busy helping to set their Royal Highnesses up for the future and working on a series of final engagements.’
It is understood that this includes the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall on March 7, which will be Harry’s last engagement as Captain-General of the Royal Marines. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are also expected to attend the Commonwealth Day service on March 9.
