Insiders say the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have essentially ‘shuttered’ their Archewell Foundation after the shock departure of their longest-serving staffer
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex(Image: Getty Images)
The number of staff working for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s Archewell Foundation has plummeted by “at least 80-85%” in a year, raising concerns about its future.
The alarm has been sounded after the sudden departure of the long-serving charity chief, James Holt. “After five incredible years in Los Angeles, it’s time for my family to return to London,” he said.
The couple’s not-for-profit organisation has recently been rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies, amid reports in the USA that the Sussexes had even considered selling it.
Mr Holt continued: “When I pass the baton to the team leading Archewell Philanthropies in the coming months, I’ll do so with immense pride and optimism for what lies ahead. I’ll miss my colleagues deeply, and I’m grateful to Harry and Meghan for everything they’ve done – for me, and for the countless people we’ve worked to support.”
READ MORE: Queen Camilla sends ‘secret signal’ to Meghan Markle that she’s ‘reluctantly’ ready for a truce
His departure was revealed on Monday by People, with Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, telling the outlet: “His enthusiasm and talent in overseeing our philanthropic endeavours have been extraordinary.”
However, in the Daily Mail, columnist Alison Boshoff says she was told a rather different story in a late night phone call from California from a panicked insider who said: “This is wild. Everyone’s getting sacked.”
In 2023, Meghan was rewarded for her charity work through the Archewell Foundation she set up with Prince Harry(Image: Getty Images Ms. Foundation for)
The layoffs follow the exit of other senior figures in recent weeks. And PageSix.com reports that Archewell vice president Shauna Nep is no longer a full-time employee, but is working on a “consultant” basis.
This mirrors the new role for Holt, who a spokesperson for the Sussexes insisted will “remain a senior philanthropic advisor for the couple and Archewell Philanthropies, supporting their humanitarian trips overseas in 2026”.
But this was greeted with scepticism, with one source telling PageSix: “Every time someone leaves Harry and Meghan say they are staying on in some capacity. But they are never heard from again.”
“Shauna hasn’t been a full-time employee in some time,” the insider added. “This is crazy – they have lost their Foundation in a matter of weeks.” And an industry figure familiar with the Sussexes claimed: “From a year ago, they have decreased their staff by at least 80-85%.”
What is Archewell?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle launched their brand in 2020, with a mix of charitable endeavours through the Archewell Foundation and business/production work through Archewell Audio and Archewell Production.
The venture actually began life the previous year, when it was registered as the Sussex Royal Foundation. But Queen Elizabeth said they could no longer use the brand name after stepping back from royal life.
The name isn’t connected to their son, Prince Archie. Instead, it comes from a compound of the Ancient Greek word ‘arch’, which means ‘source of action’, and the English word ‘well’.
It has had a large turnover of senior staff, before a major reshuffle in December 2025 when the foundation became Archewell Philanthropies. A spokesperson said job losses were “inevitable … particularly with junior admin roles”.
The few remaining employees are mostly engaged on the production side of Harry and Meghan’s business, although their futures will also be in doubt if Netflix doesn’t renew ‘With Love, Meghan’ for a third season.
Publicist Meredith Maines also left the couple recently after less than a year of employment, although one insider said she “did what she needed to do” by helping to launch Meghan’s TV show and podcast.
And LA-based deputy press secretary, Kyle Boulia, and their UK press officer, Charlie Gips, also departed over the summer, along with two additional employees. PageSix.com said Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for a comment.
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