Meghan Markle is facing what insiders describe as a deeply unsettling moment, as two key figures exit Prince Harry and her inner circle in quick succession. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently parted ways with their chief U.S. publicist, Meredith Maines, who left after just 10 months on the job. Almost simultaneously, James Holt, the couple’s longest-serving aide and executive director of their Archewell Foundation, stepped down after nearly five years in the role. Behind the scenes, sources say the double exit has rattled Markle.
Meghan Markle is in ‘full meltdown mode’ amid staff crisis and UK return concerns, per source
Holt’s departure came less than two weeks after the foundation rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies and shifted to a fiscal sponsorship model. While a spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed Holt plans to relocate from Los Angeles back to London with his family and will remain involved as a “philanthropic advisor,” the timing has raised eyebrows. “Meghan is in full meltdown mode,” the insider alleged. “She’s blaming everyone around her for her troubles – especially Harry.”
The source added that Markle fears the life she built after leaving the U.K. is beginning to crack under pressure. “She’s seeing everything she left England for falling apart and terrified she may have to go crawling back,” the insider claimed.
The former actress and the prince stepped back from royal duties in 2020, relocating to California and launching what they hoped would be a new chapter centered on media ventures, philanthropy, and Hollywood influence. However, critics say the brand they’ve tried to cultivate has faced repeated turbulence.
Royal commentator Hilary A. Fordwich suggested the staff changes may signal broader instability. “This really shows there is a volatile, erratic operation,” Fordwich said, adding that the foundation appears to be shrinking in donations, size, and overall impact. Reports have previously suggested that nearly 25 staffers have left since the couple relocated to the United States. Insiders now say Markle worries that former employees could join forces to share negative experiences publicly.
