Archewell. You know, that fancy nonprofit Meghan and Harry set up in 2020? Well, it seems like it’s about as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane. Their senior adviser, Christine Shurmer, has just jumped ship faster than you can say “royal drama.” Christine wasn’t just any old employee; she was their communications director before becoming a senior adviser. That’s right, she was the big cheese. And now she’s off to greener pastures at a swanky PR firm called The Brunswick Group.
But here’s the kicker: Christine isn’t the first to leave, and something tells me she won’t be the last. Since Meghan and Harry tied the knot in 2018, they’ve lost at least 18 staff members. Yes, 18! That’s more people than I have in my entire extended family. And nine of those departures happened since they left the UK in 2020. Talk about a mass exodus!
Remember Josh Kettler? No? Well, neither do Meghan and Harry. Josh was their Chief of Staff, hired to guide Harry through his next phase. Poor Josh barely had time to settle in before he was out the door after just three months. The official line is that it was a mutual decision, but between you and me, I smell something fishy.
Here’s where it gets really juicy. A former employee spilled the tea to the Daily Mail, and oh boy, did they spill it everywhere. According to them, “What may be most telling is that the entire time I worked there, I don’t think I heard a single current or former employee say they would take the job again if given the chance.” Ouch! That’s gotta sting. And these aren’t just random folks; we’re talking about seasoned professionals who’ve worked for demanding bosses before. If they can’t handle Meghan and Harry, who can?
And there’s more! Remember Meghan’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard? Well, it’s about as successful as my attempts at baking sourdough during lockdown. They’re still searching for a CEO and haven’t sold a single product yet. It’s like opening a restaurant and forgetting to hire a chef or buy any food.
So, why can’t they find a CEO? According to one insider, it’s because Meghan and Harry are “tough taskmasters” and very demanding. Shocker, right? Who would have thought a former actress and a prince might have high standards?
Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “But they’re Royals! They’re used to having everything done for them!” You’re not wrong. But here’s the thing: they’re not just any Royals. They decided to break away from the family business and forge their own path. Noble intentions, sure, but maybe they bit off more than they could chew. Running a nonprofit is tough—it requires hard work, dedication, and patience. And let’s be honest, Meghan and Harry aren’t exactly known for their patience.
Remember all the drama with the royal family, the Oprah interview, the Netflix documentary? These two aren’t shy about airing their grievances. But let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment. Being in the public eye isn’t easy. Every move and word is scrutinized, and that’s got to take a toll.
Archewell isn’t just a vanity project; they’re trying to make a difference in mental health, gender equality, and racial justice. I give them props for that. But here’s the million-dollar question: Can good intentions make up for poor management? Can passion compensate for a lack of experience? I’m not so sure.
I’m not saying Meghan and Harry are bad people. I think they genuinely want to make a difference. But wanting to do good and actually doing good are two different things, and right now, it seems like they’re struggling with the latter.
If I were Meghan and Harry—thank goodness I’m not because that level of scrutiny would drive me bonkers—I’d take a step back, hire a management consultant or two, and realize that running an organization isn’t like being a royal. It takes hard work, compromise, and the ability to listen to others.
Maybe this is just growing pains. Maybe in a year or two, Archewell will be thriving, and American Riviera Orchard will be the next big thing. Stranger things have happened.
In the meantime, I can’t help but wonder what’s next for Meghan and Harry. Will they turn this ship around, or will Archewell join the list of failed celebrity ventures? One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a wild ride. You can bet I’ll be here with popcorn in hand, ready to spill all the tea.
