Harry & Meghan Lose Another Chief of Staff after Three Months — Here’s What Happened

In a surprising shake-up just before their South American trip, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lost another key member of their inner circle, with a top staffer quitting his role.

After just three months on the job, Josh Kettler has reportedly stepped down as the Chief of Staff for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. According to a report by The Guardian, both parties mutually agreed that the role wasn’t the right fit.

Kettler’s departure is part of a series of staff changes within the couple’s team in recent years. In January 2023, Bennett Levine, who managed Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Productions, left the organization.

In 2022, other key members also moved on, including Fara Taylor, who led their marketing efforts; Oscar-nominated producer Ben Browning; and Rebecca Sananes, who produced Meghan’s “Archetypes” podcast. Mandana Dayani, the president of the Archewell Foundation, stepped down in December 2022 after serving for a year and a half.

Kettler began his role as Chief of Staff before Harry and Meghan’s trip to Nigeria in May 2024. Before this, he gained extensive experience from various positions at the tech company Cognixion, the clothing brand Patagonia, and other organizations.

He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Clemson University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from San Diego State University.

Despite Kettler’s impressive qualifications, the role wasn’t a good match, leading to his departure after a trial period. Kettler was initially brought on to help guide Harry in the “new phase” of his work.

He even accompanied Harry to London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, a major event that Harry founded. Despite these staffing changes, the Prince and Meghan remain active in their various projects.

They are preparing for a significant visit to Colombia, having accepted an invitation from Vice President Francia Márquez. Their tour will include stops in Bogotá, Cartagena, and Cali, where they will meet with local leaders, youth, and women.

This visit is part of a broader initiative tied to Colombia’s upcoming Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, where the Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation is expected to play a key role. “We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation,” a statement read.

The upcoming trip to Colombia will be Harry and Meghan’s second tour this year. Back in May, they visited Nigeria, where they met with officials, visited communities, and toured an academy.

As they prepare for their South American adventure amid Kettler’s departure as chief of staff, Meghan continues her search for a CEO to lead her cooking and lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard.

Amid these professional developments for the Sussexes, Meghan recently made headlines for her cold behavior during an August 2024 interview with Prince Harry.

The couple broke their three-year joint interview hiatus with a compelling appearance on “Sunday Morning,” where they introduced a gripping and personal new initiative.

However, it was Meghan’s body language toward her husband that truly captured the public’s attention. Five telling photographs capture the Duchess’s cold behavior, which a royal expert revealed was a way to relay a shocking message.

In 2024, Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Foundation unveiled a groundbreaking initiative called The Parents Network as a cornerstone of their ongoing efforts to address mental health and online safety.

This initiative was designed to support parents whose children were victimized by online bullying. The Parents Network aimed to offer resources, support, and a sense of community to those navigating the harrowing aftermath of cyberbullying and its devastating consequences.

To discuss the launch of this initiative, the couple sat down for an interview with “Sunday Morning” anchor Jane Pauley in early August 2024 — their first joint interview in three years.

During this sit-down, the couple opened up about the dangers of social media, particularly concerning its impact on young people and the alarming rise in suicide ideation linked to online interactions.

The interview included conversations with parents in the foundation’s pilot program, who shared how The Parents Network helped them heal after losing their children to online bullying.

As the conversation unfolded, Jane delved into more personal territory, asking Meghan about her decision to share her own struggles with thoughts of suicide publicly.

This topic was brought to light during Meghan’s explosive March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. During the interview, Meghan candidly revealed that she didn’t want to be alive anymore at one point during her time as a senior member of the royal family.

Jane began the delicate inquiry by saying, “You had an experience that connects you to these families,” referencing Meghan’s previous admission of contemplating self-harm.

As she spoke, the anchor observed Meghan’s subtle gesture of placing her hand on Harry’s knee, a moment that seemed to underscore the couple’s deep connection and mutual support.

Noticing this, Jane commented, “I see you touch your husband’s hand in just the way I knew that you would be looking after each other.” This observation led Jane to acknowledge Meghan’s discomfort with the direction of the conversation, stating, “I see you’re uncomfortable with my even going there.”

Meghan, in response, offered a measured and empathetic reply, “I understand why you are, though. I wasn’t expecting it, but I understand why you are. Because there is a through-line, I think.”

Meghan went on to reflect on the importance of being open about personal pain and trauma, particularly when it comes to mental health. “When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey — certainly part of mine — is being able to be really open about it,” she shared.

“I really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way and I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed,” she continued.

Meghan’s words resonated deeply as she emphasized the significance of sharing her story, not just as a means of personal relief, but as a potential lifeline for others facing similar struggles.

She added, “If me voicing what I have overcome will save someone or encourage someone in their life to really, genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good, so everything is OK, then that’s worth it. I’ll take a hit for that.”

As parents of two young children, Meghan and Harry were very much aware of the dangers the digital world can pose. “Our kids are young — they’re 3 and 5. They’re amazing,” Meghan said, speaking tenderly about their son, Prince Archie, and daughter, Princess Lilibet.

“But all you want to do as parents is protect them,” she continued. Harry echoed this sentiment, highlighting the urgency of the situation. “At this point, we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder,” he said.

The Duke’s words underscored the necessity for parents to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their children from online dangers. Meghan further encouraged viewers and listeners to adopt a deeply personal perspective when considering the issue of online safety.

“Look at it through the lens of ‘What if it was my daughter? What if it was my son?'” she urged. “If you look at it through the lens as a parent, there’s no way to see that any other way than to try to find a solution,” Meghan continued.

Following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview, a royal expert offered an insightful analysis of Meghan’s demeanor. The expert noted that Meghan displayed a mix of warmth and reserve throughout the conversation, particularly in her interactions with Harry.

In one moment, Meghan’s body was slightly angled toward her husband. Her expression conveyed a mix of attentiveness and contemplation. Her eyes were locked on Harry, her face calm but serious.

According to the expert, Meghan “smiled beatifically” when discussing positive topics such as the couple’s commitment to “change for good” and their “amazing” children. However, her attitude shifted when the Duke spoke on camera.

Meghan’s posture was straight, with hands resting gently in her lap, signifying a composed demeanor. Her gaze suggested she was deeply engaged in what Harry was saying, yet there may have been underlying tension.

The expert suggested Meghan’s expressions seemed to convey a subtle, yet clear, message to her husband. At times, she would “look stonily” at Harry, a look the expert described as an “icy, wifely stare.” Meghan was seen slightly tilting her head as she brushed her hair back with one hand.

Her eyes were turned towards the Prince, her expression neutral. This type of look, the expert noted, allegedly implied a desire for Harry to “keep it short.” It was one that husbands worldwide might recognize as a silent signal to “watch what you are saying, mister.”

Meghan’s expression in this image is notably intense. Her eyes are fixed on Harry with a penetrating gaze. The slight tension in her face, especially around the eyes and mouth, was noticeable.

In other shots, Meghan’s posture remained composed, and her body language remained controlled. However, there was a hint of distance in her look. Her hands still rested in her lap, further emphasizing her intent to stay measured during the discussion.

The couple’s interaction during their meeting with grieving parents was also scrutinized. The expert described a “brief exchange of hugs on a veranda” where the Sussexes met with parents who had lost children to online bullying and drug-related tragedies.

In addition to the royal expert’s analysis, many social media users commented on Meghan’s body language and behavior towards Harry during the interview. Some noted that Meghan placing her hand on Harry’s knee was the only sign of intimacy between them, with one user describing it as the only gesture “hinting at togetherness.”

One commenter criticized Meghan’s frequent gesture of placing her hand on Harry’s knee, describing it as “controlling rather than comforting.” They felt it undermined Harry’s independence and made him appear weak.

More social media users criticized Meghan for ignoring advice and not engaging with Harry during the interview. Some felt she appeared self-serving and focused on gaining publicity. Others found her behavior embarrassing, feeling it negatively affected both her and Harry, and worried about the impact on their family.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s recent interview did more than launch a new initiative; it offered a glimpse into the deeper layers of their relationship. Even with their top official Kettler’s departure, the Sussexes stay focused on mental health and their global mission.