Why Harry & Meghan’s Chief Of Staff Quit So Soon Leaves Us Questioning More

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, hired a new chief of staff a few months ago, but he didn’t stay long. Josh Kettler, with a wealth of PR experience and described on his LinkedIn as “an executive accelerator, organizer, and confidant,” was brought on in May to assist Harry with his upcoming endeavors. However, according to a source in a Daily Mail article published on August 12, he’s already vacated his position with the former senior royals. The reason behind Kettler’s departure is said to be straightforward and not due to any bad blood. Yet, this development raises questions about what might be happening behind the scenes.

A chief of staff resigning just three months after being hired might seem suspicious. However, People revealed that Kettler was initially brought on a temporary basis, and both parties decided that he shouldn’t stay long-term. Still, the timing of his departure is noteworthy, especially since it’s just days before the couple’s tour of Colombia. In May, Kettler accompanied Harry to London to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games and was also by Harry’s side during their three-day tour of Nigeria. It seems likely he would have joined them on the Colombia trip as well. Now, they’ve lost their chief of staff at a critical moment.

To complicate matters, the upcoming trip to Colombia is already controversial. Having Kettler, a PR expert, could have been beneficial for Harry and Meghan during this tour.

Maintaining a positive public image has been challenging for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle since they left their roles as working royals in 2020. Many of their actions have attracted criticism, and their public engagements and visits to other countries have been no exception. In a piece for The Sun ahead of the couple’s Colombia visit, frequent critic Piers Morgan wrote: “Meghan and Harry aren’t real royals these days. They don’t do any actual duties for the institution which conferred their titles on them. So, what gives them the right to prance around the world pretending to be proper royals, on quasi-official visits? There are so many things wrong about this.”

The couple’s invitation to Colombia has also been questioned. Political scientist Mónica Pachón told The Independent that Vice President Francia Márquez might have invited them to draw media attention to boost her image. Kettler’s sudden departure so close to a contentious trip where his expertise would clearly be needed raises more questions about the timing and reasons behind his exit.

According to the Daily Mail, Josh Kettler is rumored to be one of over a dozen employees who have left Prince Harry and Meghan Markle since their marriage in 2018. Many of these former employees were associated with their company, Archewell, including the head of internal content, head of audio, and the president, all of whom left within two years. Following Kettler’s departure, another ex-employee shared with the Daily Mail, “What may be most telling is that the entire time I worked there, I don’t think I heard a single current or former employee say they would take the job again if given the chance.” They continued, “Many of these employees previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments.”

Regardless of the reasons for the numerous resignations among Harry and Meghan’s staff, it’s apparent the couple is struggling to keep their employees satisfied. Not only do they need individuals to maintain their public image, but they also require skilled personnel to manage their business operations. Meghan reportedly interviewed several candidates for the CEO position of her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, yet finding the right fit has proven to be challenging, as no hire has been publicly announced.