Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s loss of a long-serving aide at the end of 2025 has left them substantially weakened.  

James Holt witnessed first hand their experiences in the monarchy. He was there in Windsor with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their wedding day in May 2018, keeping a cool head while many around were losing theirs.

Having previously been head of communications to former Liberal Democrat politician Nick Clegg when he was Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Holt was used to high pressure environments. This left him well placed to cope with the high emotions that swirled around Harry and Meghan, their relationship with staff and also with Prince William and Princess Kate.

And when they quit in 2020 he followed them out to America, initially as a press officer and later as co-executive director of their charity, which recently rebranded from the Archewell Foundation to Archewell Philanthropies.

Now though, he is leaving the organization and returning to Britain which, coupled with the departure of their chief communications officer Meredith Maines, less than a year into the job, leaves the couple weakened as they head into 2026.

Why It Matters

Holt was a true Sussex loyalist during the era in which royal relations turned toxic and Harry and Meghan decided their only option was to quit Britain and the palace for a new life in America.

At the time, he was a press officer and then head of communications at the Royal Foundation charity, once home to the charitable activities for William, Kate, Harry and Meghan. Now, it serves the Prince and Princess of Wales only.

Holt guided the Sussexes through their Oprah Winfrey interview in March 2021 before moving out to California to help run Archewell, their charitable foundation. He was perhaps the only aide left who truly understood their experiences in the monarchy, having witnessed them first hand.

Holt remained with the couple throughout an era in which many employees left and Meghan also was accused of bullying staff in both Britain and America, which she has denied. He was therefore a testament to the principle that it is possible for them to retain staff.

What Meghan and Harry Said about James Holt’s Departure

The Sussexes indicated this will not be the last time Holt works for them as he “will remain a senior philanthropic adviser,” a spokesperson said.

Harry and Meghan said in a statement released to Newsweek: “James has been a stellar support for us for nearly ten years. His enthusiasm and talent in overseeing our philanthropic endeavours have been extraordinary.

“As James moves his young family back to the UK, we are proud that he will continue to guide various humanitarian trips for us overseas through Archewell Philanthropies.”

James Holt said in a statement released to Newsweek: “After five incredible years in Los Angeles, it’s time for my family to return to London. 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.”

Archewell’s Rebrand

The Sussexes were already known to be braced for redundancies due to a shift in the focus of their charity from running its own programs to funding other organizations. The Archewell Foundation has rebranded at the same time to Archewell Philanthropies.

It comes as their income from donations dropped from $5.3 million in 2023 to $2.1 million in 2024, indicating they will have had less to spend in 2025.

A Sussex spokesperson said in a December statement: “The move toward a philanthropic fiscal sponsor operating model, does mean that some staff redundancies are inevitable, particularly with junior admin roles.”

It is not known whether the departure of Holt and Maines had a cost-cutting aspect to it, though the indication was clearly that it would be junior roles facing the axe.

Maines’ departure will be chalked up by critics of the couple as another example of high turnover after she joined the organization in March 2025 and is set to leave in 2026.

A spokesperson for the couple told The Daily Beast Maines and outside firm Method Communications, who Maines hired, had “concluded their work with Archewell,” and the Sussexes were “grateful for their contributions and wish them well.”

What People Are Saying

Afua Hagan, a prominent U.K. royal commentator, told Newsweek: “It does feel like a big departure. He’s coming back to the U.K. I think, probably, he just got to end of his tenure. He was there for five years. It’s quite a long time to be with any company so I think its just that he’s moving on as they are evolving—as Archewell is evolving and as James is evolving as well.

“It is a loss in the sense that he was a great foot soldier for them and has been with them for such a long time, he knows them inside out so I think they will definitely miss his talents.”

James Holt, outgoing co-executive director at Archewell Philanthropies, said in a statement: “Working with Prince Harry and Meghan has been one of the great privileges of my career. 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.

“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.

“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.”

What Happens Next

Shauna Nep remains executive director of Archewell Philanthropies.