After what has been an Annus Horribilis for the Sussex brand, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle forged ahead with yet another charm offensive last week as they carried out a four-day ‘quasi Royal Tour’ in Columbia.
But the tour, the couple’s second this year after their trip to Nigeria in May, was marred by yet another scandal much closer to home when their Chief of Staff, Josh Kettler, left his role after just three months.
And now a source tells Closer this latest staffing scandal has been a “humiliating and demoralising” blow to Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43.
The insider says, “The timing of this turn of events is absolutely terrible. Right as they set off on an exciting tour of Columbia the news of Kettler throwing in the towel is plastered everywhere and they’re once again being branded as horrible bosses who nobody seems to want to work for.
“Of course they’ve tried to do damage control but, behind closed doors, it’s utterly humiliating and demoralising.”
The sudden departure of PR guru Kettler - who accompanied the couple to Nigeria and is believed to have been hired to guide Harry “through his next phase” - is believed to have been a “mutual” agreement following a three-month trial.
However, the timing of his exit just hours before the Sussexes’ departure to Columbia, has raised alarm bells for critics of the pair as Kettler became the 18th member of staff on the Sussex’s payroll to quit since 2018.
One former staffer said last week, “…The entire time I worked there, I don't think I heard a single current or former employee on their staff say they would take the job again if given the chance.”
And this isn’t the first time there have been whispers from inside Camp Sussex, with royal author Tom Bower referring to former staff as the ‘Sussex Survivors Club’.
Just months after Meghan’s wedding to Harry in May 2018, rumours emerged that Kate Middleton had been forced to “have a word” with her over accusations she had “bullied” a member of her staff - something Meghan’s lawyers denied.
Meghan’s former PA, Melissa Toubati was also said to have left her role “in tears” after just six months when the Duchesses ‘unreasonable’ demands – which reportedly included installing air fresheners in St George’s Chapel because it smelt “too musty” – proved too much.
Now Meghan - who suffered yet another setback last week when the release of her Netflix cookery show was delayed until next year due to copyright issues - is reportedly struggling to find a CEO for her American Riviera Orchard brand.
The source adds, “The numbers don’t lie and to have almost 20 members of staff quitting on them tells its own story. It’s unprecedented, even for a start-up.
“The brutal reality is that Harry and Meghan are the toughest of taskmasters, they’re very demanding and difficult to work for and that puts a lot of people’s backs up.
“Obviously the royals are well aware of this news and it comes as no surprise to the likes of King Charles, Prince William and other members of The Firm. The consensus is that Harry and Meghan are reaping what they’ve sewn for themselves, and it’s a classic case of karma catching up with them.”