Harry and Meghan’s closest advisor quits as head of their charity days after Sussexes lost their eleventh publicist

James Holt resigns via Megxit, the publication of Prince Harry and Meghan’s ‘rock’ Spare and Beyond.

Holt has run the charity Archewell since 2021. Before that, she served as their PR chief from 2019 to 2021, a tumultuous period in their lives when they left the United Kingdom and stepped back as Royals.

She followed the couple to live in California and was featured prominently in the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan; Meanwhile, he claimed the Brexit debate had fueled racist views that shattered the Duchess’ ‘fairy tale’ of marrying into the Royal Family.

Sources say Holt now wants to live in London with her husband and young child and it will be a ‘management issue’ if she continues as their charity boss.

A former Liberal Democrat spokesperson, who worked for a time for Nick Clegg when he was deputy Prime Minister, began working with Prince Harry in 2017 as a PR for the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince Harry Royal Foundation.

Holt’s departure from the Sussex team comes at a time of crisis for the Archewell charity; Three staff members were laid off, including Kirsten Slevin, director of programs and operations. Its most recent accounts show Holt was paid a salary of $245,000 by Archewell in 2024.

The 990 filing also shows total expenses increased to $5.1 million, up from $3.3 million the previous year. Donations to Archewell were $2.1 million, but the endowment was only $1.25 million.

Harry and Meghan photographed at the Healthy Minds Project gala in New York in October

Holt seen speaking to Harry and Meghan on Netflix series Heart of Invictus

Holt signed these accounts as the charity’s chief executive, but was not in the photo taken of the ‘Archewell team’ at a food bank in November. She was last seen with the couple at World Mental Health Day events in October.

When this writer asked the Sussex PR team on December 14 if Holt was leaving, they said he was ‘working in and for the trust’.

The following day, Sussex lawyers were booked into a meeting where the PR wrote: ‘James has returned from paternity leave following three months of paid leave and is still employed and actively engaged.’

But yesterday, following renewed investigations, they confirmed that he had indeed decided to leave Archewell.

In a statement shared with the Mail, Holt said it was a ‘huge privilege’ to work with the couple and that he found a ‘kindred spirit’ in Meghan.

A spokesman for the couple said Holt will remain a ‘senior philanthropic advisor’ to the couple and Archewell Philanthropies and will support their ‘overseas humanitarian trips in 2026’.

A source added: ‘He will support the Duke in a range of roles over the next 12 months.’

Holt (right with Harry and Meghan) has run Sussex’s Archewell charity since 2021

Holt’s statement included the following statements: ‘Working with Prince Harry and Meghan has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.

‘From my first project with Prince Harry eight years ago to improve mental health support for soldiers in the British army, to our recent work to help injured children in Gaza, he has continually challenged me to think bigger about how we can make a difference.

‘From the moment I met Meghan, I recognized a kindred spirit who finds joy even in difficult moments and connects with people in an authentic way, no matter the circumstances.

‘Above all, the work we do together to support families affected by online harm will continue to be the most meaningful work of my professional life. These families are extraordinary and they inspire me every day.

‘After five incredible years in Los Angeles, it’s time for my family to return to London. When I hand over the mantle to the team leading Archewell Philanthropies in the coming months, I will do so with great pride and optimism about what lies ahead.

‘I will miss my colleagues very much and I am grateful to Harry and Meghan for everything they have done for me and the countless people we work to support.’

The Duke and Duchess released a statement saying: ‘James has been a wonderful support to us for almost a decade. His enthusiasm and ability to oversee our philanthropic efforts were extraordinary.

‘As James moves his young family back to the UK, we are proud that he continues to guide a variety of humanitarian trips overseas for us through Archewell Philanthropies.’

A source said of her move: ‘She is disappointed that her return to the UK comes at a transitional period for the Duke and Duchess, so she has yet to stay on for a few more months to run things at Archewell. ‘He is very protective of the couple and is worried it will cause them upset.’

In the 2022 Netflix show Harry & Meghan, James Holt described leaving the European Union as ‘a perfect storm that gave credence to chauvinism and nationalism’.

He claimed that Britain’s departure ‘gives people who have really terrible views about the world a little bit more power and confidence to say what they want to say and do’.

Harry later said: ‘So the EU produced a report in 2016, right around the time our relationship became public.

‘He was warning that if the government did nothing or the media did not resolve itself, an already existing culture war would escalate and become a real problem.’

Historian and broadcaster David Olusoga was later filmed saying: ‘Like everyone else, many black Britons I know were caught up in the romance and wonder of this moment.

‘But this fairy tale is set in a country that has some pretty toxic debates about the European Union.’

Then, from unspecified dates and locations, there was footage of people waving Union flags, someone on a tube train saying ‘Go back to Africa’, and montages of newspaper headlines.