When the Duchess of Sussex first arrived back in Britain for the first time following January’s Sussexit announcement, she was first spotted at the Goring Hotel, one of the most exclusive and “royal-adjacent” hotels in England. She and Harry were seen exiting the hotel, and there was a day-long HOW DARE THEY story about how Meghan and Harry were probably staying at the Goring Hotel and how dare they not stay at their taxpayer-funded home Frogmore Cottage, and how dare they spend money on a nice hotel, etc. Well, the mystery of why Meghan and Harry were at the Goring has been answered: they threw a goodbye-lunch for their staffers.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s staff wept during an emotional lunch the couple threw for their employees, Page Six is told. With just days to go before they step down as “senior” royals, the The Duke and Duchess of Sussex — currently on a “farewell tour” of the UK — surprised their employees with a “festive” lunch at The Goring Hotel in London on Thursday.
The Sussexes told their 15 staff they were closing their Buckingham Palace office in person in January — shortly after announcing they were moving to North America. While a few staff will remain in their employ, most have been negotiating exit packages.
A royal source said the couple organized a lunch to bid farewell to their hard-working team, revealing: “Harry and Meghan have often done fun things like throwing pizza parties or hiring ice cream trucks for their staff, but they wanted to do something special going into this last week together. They toasted the team and thanked them for everything they have done. Some of the staffers cried. They’ve all been through so much together and the staff have been working around the clock to make sure this last visit was as seamless as possible. Meghan and Harry really wanted to show their appreciation, they know how hard everyone has worked.”
Staff who are leaving include Harry’s longtime program co-ordinator Clara Loughran, who was asked by the prince to hand Meghan her bouquet in church on her wedding day. The couple’s private secretary Fiona Mcilwham is also leaving, although she is on secondment from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is likely to be found in a role in Whitehall, according to reports. Their hugely experienced communications chief Sara Latham — who previously worked for the Obamas and was Hillary Clinton’s senior campaign adviser –- remains with them until the end of the month, while her deputy, assistant communications secretary Marnie Gaffney, is leaving. The other press officer to lose her job is Julie Burley, who worked for Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton on their successful mental health campaign Heads Together. David Watkins, poached from fashion house Burberry in August as the couple’s social media expert and nicknamed “Digital Dave”, is also leaving.
I still have questions about whether certain staff members are going to “rejoin” the Sussexes’ staff in a private capacity once they’re officially off the royal chain on April 1st. My guess is that a few of these staffers probably will be working for Harry and Meghan in some capacity. I’d also like to point out a few odd things. One, we all knew that Harry & Meghan’s palace office was going away when they announced their Sussexit, so why all the breast-beating from royal reporters one month ago about it? It’s also remarkable and noteworthy that no other royal office wants to hire ex-Sussex staffers. Those royal offices want to copy and emulate Harry and Meghan’s media-savvy power, their social media and their ideas, but those royal offices won’t hire H&M’s people? It’s funny. Anyway, the Goring Hotel lunch sounds like it was a nice time.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
A nice gesture. Was “Heads Together” successful? Isn’t that the one with the dumb survey everyone is correctly clowning on?
No, Heads together was the mental health umbrella charity. We haven’t heard about it in quite some time IIRC.
I remember the Heads Together big kick off was associated with Harry’s patron with the London marathon charitable trust, but after the media push by KP leading up to the 2017 London marathon Heads Together just kind of fell off except for the projects Harry brought to the table. Heads Together was supposed to be a vehicle for Kate but it went nowhere.
Heads together was where they were wearing those awful headbands made of tennis elastic terrycloth like. Kate looked awful in it and looked like nobody was feeling comfortable or confident in them.
Heads Together was a piggyback of Harry’s projects. It was still active when both Sussexes were at the Royal Foundation but died once they left Kensington palace. I knew once the Sussexes left that Foundation that it would just be a matter of time. Now the Endeavour Fund is being incorporated into the Invictus Games, meaning William and the Royal Foundation have lost control of that too, Sentebale is already left with the Sussexes, William has no contorl over that, Together Cookbook/project gone with the Sussexes William has no control over it either, now all that’s left is the Struggle Survey and that’s it.
No they still have William’s amazing global environment project that they announced several months ago but hasn’t rolled out.
Class all the way out. Love it.
Exactly.
+1
Such a genuinely kind thing to do.
Exactly. And I’ll bet each staff member got a lovely gift or check as well. As they were all working for months behind the scenes over Sussexes trying to step back and then were notified in early Jan that the Sussexes would be closing the office, I will bet that every one of them already has a new position lined up effective April 1. Press had to stop banging on about the Goring because the Queen throws her staff parties there. Also, we still have not heard word one on RR sadness and concern about Andrew’s staff who lost their jobs within about 48 hours of Andrew’s tv interview.
Good people, these two. And she is stunning in jewel tones.
I wonder if the Cambridge’s will continue to buy bot followers for their social media accounts now that Harry and Meg have been banished?
They will, now more than ever. All that extra cash must be put to use.
Again and again, Harry and Meghan show how kind they are and how much they care. BRF, take notes.
They seem to be doing everything right, up front and openly…like royals. Funny how they’re the only ones who behave like representatives.
Mabs!!! This is what I think also. It is so ironic that Meg and Harry are the ones who are not to use the word Royal. I think they are the only two who opitimize the word.
I really don’t think they even want to use the word “royal.” Nor do they need to. Everyone knows who they are, and they are purposely cutting ties from All of That.
I also don’t think they wanted to walk in the processional. They are done. HARRY is done, and has been for a while.
All this other nonsense is just other people stirring the pot.
I think it’s entirely likely that they will employ an American publicist. And I’m sure everyone who worked for them who can’t get a job in Buckingham Palace will be able to get a very nice job in the private sector making good wages. I would say BP needs that staff more than the staff needs them.
They do have a US publicist. Sunshine Sachs. The LA Times reported it.
Only for Travelyst. Not as a general advisor.
Sunshine Sachs has denied multiple times that they are official PR/publicists for the Sussexes.
A very professional and classy move. Funny how we never heard the positive stories about pizza parties and ice cream trucks until now….
I read about the ice cream event when People put out the issue with statements from Meghan’s friends and co-workers.
Exactly @Becks1. But we sure heard about Duchess Diva Difficult who who went around waking everyone up at 5 am and was sacking folks left and right.
Yup, anything to tear her down and rip her to shreds in the press of public opinion. I am sure that Harry hates to leave his only place that he has known as home, but I know that he and Meghan will be happy no matter where they are! It does sound like they were wonderful to work with though!! That was lovely gesture to throw a luncheon of appreciation 😌
I’d like to think that several of the Sussex’s staff were offered jobs in other palaces but turned them down, since they know all about the back-stabbing and leakage.
Harry & Meghan were probably awesome bosses.
Nice touch to close out the offices.
Fyi, Harry is also stepping up his fashion style and looking great as he coordinates with his wife. He always holds her hand. He’s clearly showing the unity here!
I still think that Harry looks pretty somber in a lot of the pictures while Meghan is smiling in all of them. I think that the weight of his decision still weighs heavily on him.
I think it more likely that he is still super pissed at his ever-leaking sibling and unsupportive father, and that he couldn’t be more happy to see the back of them.
The utter treachery he’s had to endure from his own family is sickening.
Meghan is probably better at pasting the smile on and getting through whatever needs to be done. A lot of women are like that. Men…not so much.
Yup, and unfortunately Meghan HAS to be upbeat as a WOC. If she was showing anything less than a smile or a pleasant expression, the press would rip her to shreds and the detractors would gleefully create all sorts of nasty narratives. She was probably just as eager to be at the Commonwealth service as Harry (aka not at all), but she doesn’t have the privilege to let those feelings show.
@Beach Dreams — so much THIS. ^^^^ As a Chicana and fellow WOC, I’m well aware of the whole “angry Black/Latina/WOC” trope. I’m sure Meghan has had a lifetime to practice pasting on a smiley, pleasant face to keep salty White folks from coming at her with, “Why is she always so NEGATIVE? What does she have to be angry about, anyways? She married Harry, didn’t she?”
In a way, she’s had training for membership in the BRF that someone like Kate, perpetually sheltered and directed by Mommie Dearest, never had. Smile, be pleasant and accessible, never frown even a teensy bit, don’t complain. She would have been a tremendous asset to the BRF, if only she’d been allowed. Too bad the BRF and the tabloid media ran her off. “Coulda had a bad bitch,” indeed.
@booboocita: I agree with all of this. But here’s the dirty, not-so-secret secret, WoC can’t win even when we are pleasant. I have seen a number of comments that she is a diva and is hungry for the spotlight, all because she managed not to scowl at the people who made her miserable.
She probably has had to learn to put on a good public face because of what she’s gone through with a narcissistic father. Even her evil ex friend admitted Meghan hides the full story on him because she’s protecting him. Nika or whatever her name has said even she doesn’t know what that is. If she were a real friend she would admire Meghan but instead she’s another jealous sellout in Meghan’s life.
Looking at the old home videos of Meghan from her early teens to when she was in her early 20’s and talking about auditions, she seems naturally very energetic and upbeat and really funny. My goodness, she was such a down to earth funny teenager. People who don’t have agendas still describe her as such, so she probably makes Harry laugh a lot. It is no wonder he looked so great fresh from Canada).
When she mentioned on a video that she couldn’t drop by her house because things were rough with her dad at that time, she didn’t wallow or look distraught. She seemed very accepting of the problems and determined not to let them get to her. Her resilience is remarkable. I can only imagine what she’s had to endure to cultivate that much strength (and her obvious empathy).
For her to have shown us the pain and vulnerability she did at the end, during the documentary they did on their last tour, means she was processing incredible levels of abuse and sadness and disappointment into something she could articulate gracefully to the rest of the world.
We hear you, Meghan, and we’ve got your back.
I swear to god I’ve been seeing some of their staff on Instagram videos fans post? It could be they’re contracted until the 31st but if this article isn’t true then it wouldn’t surprise me if they get rehired under different contracts
They are good people with good intentions. Too bad jealously drove them out. They would have done amazing things for the UK.
Yes they would have. It is a shame that his father and TQ didn’t make public comments condemning the nastiness of the British press, which would have made great strides in shutting the press down. I think that had only those two called out the press, things would have turned out very differently.
I’ve often wondered if Charles has a plan to bring them back into the fold when he is King? I know it may be a long time for that to happen, but he may have said out of the earshot of QEII and Willy “to just wait.”
@feufinaWG – what would they really be coming back for though. The best part about this timing is that they can get themselves set professionally/financially before Big King Wandering Willy takes the throne. To go back while Charles is king puts that momentum in jeaopardy. Then once Charles is gone (RIP), it puts them at BKWW’s mercy financially. Seems risky to go back.
GuestWho: It was just a thought. I think once Harry hits the 2-3 month “decompression” mark, he and Meghan will show the world they are successful, they’ll have a lot of followers, and be happy as hell to be out of England (for the most part.) Sure they’ll show up in England now and again for whatever charities they’re working with, give each a full 100% and actually be engaged with them, and pull the spotlight from W&K, yet again, but England is Harry’s home country and he loves it. It must be incredibly sad for him.
@guestwho I’ve always personally thought Charles would leave the bulk of his considerable private fortune to Harry with some trusts set up for Charlotte and Louis to allow all of them independently. William will have the duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster in due time and wouldn’t need it.
It’s more like the H&M staffers don’t want to work for anyone else rather the other offices not hiring them. Apparently at least one turned BP down flat.
Why would you work for anyone in this family who contributed to the way the Sussex’s were treated? These staffers know exactly what went down and who was behind it.
This. I also wonder if the former Sussex team members, especially anyone who worked on social media, has a “shine” that other royal staffers don’t have, so they can get more lucrative positions outside the BRF. They’ve basically worked at the top of the social media game for global celebs, and that kind of person is hard to find for international PR firms, for example.
Ugh … these two are so much more mature than I am. They have handled this all practically perfectly.
William should be glad I am not his sister. I would out all the people feeding stories to the press. I would not be the class act Megan and Harry are. When they go low, we go high. Wow, so incredible to witness.
If you are a fan of Meghan and Harry you just keep falling further in love don’t you? I know they are not perfect but they are very impressive. Super lovely to have a great lunch to thank their staffers.
Me too Pineapple. I know I would definitely have bitch slapped some of that family on my way out the door.
Pure class.
Harry and Meghan wanted to retain their royal titles and work part time while pursuing other money making interests. Therefore, by their preferred plan, they would have still needed their staff. That plan was nixed so they fired said staff. That’s why the media reported on it when it did.
Your assessment of what happened is not accurate and I know this was not an oversight, @Callister. But, first, I’ll say this: I doubt the DDoS woud’ve retained a full staff if they were working part-time for the monarch. Likely, their infrequent, as needed events and engagements would have been managed by the BP comm director and a paired-down staff, and I’m sure they knew this. Factually, the tabloids, specifically the Dim and editor Wootton, practically gave them/their PR team an ultimatum in December 2019 to either release the details of their transition plan or they would “break” the story in 10 days. Wootton, like a petty gangster, was quite gleeful and proud that he basically extorted this information from them. Bottom line, all that went down with the leak of their plan is out there for anyone curious enough look; it wouldn’t have taken much more time to google it than to type your comment.
I think Charles would like them on side during his reign. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him carving out some roles, tours, patronages for them. He will be king so hopefully will have some power to make those decisions without capitulating to William. Was he complicit in driving them away? Will he/ does he regret it? Will he want/ need their star power? Let’s see what the next few years bring, the Sussex’ careers, the Cambridge work ethic, the public mood after the passing of the Queen. There’s a lot coming that will shape his reign.
Sounds like they are treating people right. I imagine working for the Sussexes would be a huge bullet point in your resume, and it speaks volumes about the loyalty they inspired that we didn’t hear leaks about this last week!
I would be surprised if any of their staff would willingly accept another palace job, it seems like a nest of vipers.
None of those employees will have any problems finding new jobs. They were extremely accomplished before and now they’ll have this on a resume along with, I’m sure, glowing recommendations. If I was them, I wouldn’t want to remain in royal employment. The BRF is notoriously cheap. I’m sure a large part of their accepting these jobs was the chance to be involved with the Sussexes and their charitable portfolios. There’s nothing comparable going on with the other royals.
Goring Hotel, that was a well deserved posh farewell lunch party, not some cheap chain restaurant, for their staff. By all means some will still work for the sussexes, but they needed to close this current contract first. I don’t think the staff would like to work for other royals, after being privy to the treachery towards, the sussexes. BP, does not want to hire them, because they never corperated in their shinanighans.