Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Latest Move Brings Back a Familiar Hollywood Player
A familiar PR firm returns as the Sussexes quietly reshape their inner circle.
At a moment when their public-facing operation is clearly in flux, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have opted for something familiar this time. As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recalibrate their professional setup in the new year, they are reuniting with a Hollywood heavyweight that knows their story — and their pressure points — well.
PEOPLE! confirmed that the Sussexes are once again working with Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (SSML). This influential bicoastal public relations firm has long been a fixture in Markle’s professional orbit. The firm will now support Markle’s lifestyle venture, As ever, alongside the couple’s broader U.S.-based initiatives. SSML’s client roster reads like a who’s who of entertainment, making it a natural choice, as the Sussexes seek stability during a period of internal change. It must be noted that the partnership does not replace the couple’s in-house communications structure but is designed to complement it, the outlet reported. Liam Maguire, the Sussexes’ director of communications for the U.K. and Europe, remains firmly in place and continues to oversee Harry’s messaging, particularly on matters tied to Britain and the Commonwealth.
Markle and Harry have maintained a long-standing relationship with SSML, even as they expanded their own communications machinery after relocating to the United States and launching their nonprofit, now known as Archewell Philanthropies.
The firm worked closely with Markle during her time on Suits and has collaborated with the couple intermittently since 2017. Their ties are personal as well as professional — one of SSML’s co-presidents, Keleigh Thomas Morgan, was among the guests at the Sussexes’ royal wedding in May 2018.
This renewed alliance comes against the backdrop of a notable staffing shakeup. In December, the couple’s chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, announced she was stepping down after roughly nine months in the role. During her tenure, Maines worked closely with Method Communications, the external firm handling much of the Sussexes’ U.S.-based publicity, particularly for Markle. Maine’s exit is part of a wider pattern. The Sussexes’ communications team has seen steady turnover in recent years. In 2024, global press secretary Ashley Hansen left after two years to launch her own consultancy. The following year brought additional departures, including U.K.-based Charlie Gipson and California-based Kyle Boulia. Emily Robinson, who joined from Netflix as director of communications, also exited the role in October after just four months.
The most significant change, however, came at the end of 2025, when longtime adviser James Holt announced he was stepping down as executive director of Archewell. Holt had been a central figure in shaping the couple’s philanthropic vision and execution. “From my first project with Prince Harry eight years ago to improve mental health support for soldiers in the British military, to our recent work helping injured children in Gaza, he has consistently challenged me to think bigger about how we can make a difference,” Holt said in a statement to PEOPLE. “From the moment I met Meghan, I recognized a kindred spirit — someone who finds joy even in difficult moments and connects authentically with people regardless of circumstance.”
He added, “Above everything else, the work we’ve done together to support families affected by online harm will remain the most meaningful of my professional life. These families are extraordinary, and they inspire me every day.”
