Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s carefully crafted post-royal life is once again under a microscope as new reports suggest stress is building behind the gates of their California home. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who famously stepped away from royal duties in 2020 to build a new future in the United States, are now facing fresh rumors about their marriage as professional setbacks and staffing changes begin to pile up.
The latest buzz out of California centers on two major departures from the couple’s inner circle. Their chief U.S. publicist, Meredith Maines, recently stepped down after less than a year on the job, saying her intended duties had been completed. Not long after, James Holt, the longtime executive director of the Archewell Foundation, also left his position after nearly five years, per Radar Online.
While a representative for the Sussexes says Holt will continue working as a “philanthropic advisor,” insiders claim the timing of these exits has intensified concerns about the couple’s professional stability and personal strain.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s California Dream In Jeopardy
According to one source, the situation has been especially difficult for Meghan. “Meghan is in full meltdown mode,” the insider claimed, adding that she is “blaming everyone around her for her troubles – especially Harry – and people around her are afraid she’s losing it.” The same source suggested the Duchess fears the life she built after leaving the United Kingdom could be unraveling faster than expected.
The Archewell Foundation itself is also undergoing changes, including a new name, Archewell Philanthropies, and a shift to a fiscal sponsorship model. Royal expert Hilary A. Fordwich believes these transitions could signal deeper problems within the Sussex operation. “This really – more than anything – shows there is a volatile, erratic operation,” Fordwich said. “And the charity is shrinking in terms of donations, in terms of size and in terms of impact.”
Those professional struggles are reportedly happening alongside personal disappointment. Meghan’s Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan is said to have received global ridicule after failing to connect with audiences, while sources claim Harry has been feeling homesick for England. The couple, once embraced by Hollywood’s elite, are also rumored to have drifted away from high-profile friends like Barack and Michelle Obama, George and Amal Clooney, and David and Victoria Beckham.
Meghan Is Allegedly Too ‘High Maintenance’
If true, that would mark a major shift from the Sussexes’ early days in the entertainment world, when their arrival in the U.S. generated enormous curiosity and opportunity. Instead, insiders say the couple’s brand has struggled to maintain momentum.
Staff turnover has become another talking point. Reports suggest nearly two dozen employees have left the Sussexes’ team over time. Some former staffers have allegedly described Meghan as demanding, with one insider claiming employees fear ex-workers could eventually speak out publicly. Fordwich pointed to a pattern, saying, “The only common denominator is the dysfunctional situation of working for somebody who is unmanageably high maintenance at best.”
Bullying allegations have followed Meghan since her royal days. Jason Knauf, the couple’s former communications secretary, previously claimed she pushed two assistants out of their roles. Meghan has strongly denied those accusations, with a representative calling them a “calculated smear campaign.” Still, the reputation concerns appear to linger.
Meghan’s Track Record Isn’t Great
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan continue raising their two children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, while trying to balance public expectations with private family life. That balancing act has never been simple, especially for a couple navigating fame, business ventures, philanthropy, and lingering royal tensions all at once.
Fordwich offered a blunt assessment of Meghan’s broader relationship history, saying, “She has broken up with every relationship she’s ever had – except for her mother and Harry.” She added that Meghan’s “track record of destroying relationships” may make it harder to attract new collaborators moving forward.
Whether these challenges represent a temporary rough patch or something more serious remains unclear. But one thing is certain: life after royalty hasn’t been the fairy tale many expected. As the Sussexes continue trying to redefine their identity and influence, the pressure surrounding their partnership appears to be growing both professionally and personally.
