The ongoing saga of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s management issues continues to unfold, and it’s proving to be as dramatic as ever. According to a revealing report by In Touch magazine, the Sussexes have gained infamy for being some of the most demanding and toxic employers in the business world.
Their latest venture, American Riviera Orchard, is on the brink of disaster due to a growing exodus of high-level staff who can no longer endure the toxic environment. The most recent casualty is Josh Kettler, the chief of staff for the beleaguered brand. Kettler left just days before he was supposed to join the Sussexes on their extravagant tour of Colombia. His departure, after only three months, marks a new record in the revolving door of executives within the Markle-Harry empire.
According to an anonymous insider, working with Meghan and Harry is nothing short of a nightmare. The brutal truth is that Meghan and Harry are incredibly difficult taskmasters. The insider reveals that their demanding nature has driven almost 20 staffers to quit, an unprecedented number even for a startup.
The drama surrounding Meghan’s new lifestyle brand, which launched with grand promises and flashy PR stunts, now looks like a cautionary tale of failed ambition. Despite the high-profile launch, which included sending homemade strawberry jam and dog biscuits to select friends and teasing a rosé wine, the project is floundering. The latest update is that everything has come to a halt. Meghan’s cooking and gardening show for Netflix has been filmed, but there is still no air date in sight.
Meghan’s problematic reputation as a boss is not new. During her brief tenure as a working royal, she faced allegations of bullying behavior, which she dismissed as a calculated smear campaign. A formal investigation was launched by Queen Elizabeth, but the results remain secret. It’s clear that Meghan’s high-handedness and refusal to heed advice created a toxic work environment, and it seems that nothing has changed.
Royal insiders are unreserved in their scathing assessments. Meghan has a history of conflict with friends and family. She abandoned her father after his heart attack, accused the Royals of racism and cruelty, and is notorious for ghosting friends once they’ve served their purpose. The difficulty in retaining staff is telling. Former employees have even formed what they call the “Sussex Survivor Club,” proudly declaring their escape from the Markle-Harry regime.
Samantha Cohen, a senior royal courtier and a favorite of Queen Elizabeth for 20 years, was forced to stay on longer than she wanted due to a lack of a suitable replacement. Another former staffer laments that, throughout their time working there, no current or former employee would take the job again if given the chance.
Despite their endless quest for top-tier PR professionals and high-caliber staff, Meghan and Harry’s inability to keep their team together reveals a critical flaw in their approach. One courtier explains, “My guess is that Meghan doesn’t listen to anybody because she thinks she knows best. It’s a recipe for business disaster.” Meghan and Harry need loyal aides to guide them, but the people they hire will only stay if the Sussexes are willing to listen—and listening to others does not appear to be Meghan’s strong suit.
