Like everyone else, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle appears to be nostalgic for 2016—and we’re not just talking about her engagement with the “2026 is the New 2016” social media trend. But perhaps the photo she posted of herself with Prince Harry, taken when she was still the star of Suits, provided some inspiration for her latest move as an exiled California duchess.
It’s no secret that Meghan and Harry have struggled to retain a public relations team, with last month’s departure of Meredith Maines marking the eleventh press officer to leave the Sussex ship in just five years. But according to The Telegraph, Meghan has stopped looking for a new spokesperson, and has instead turned back to Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (SSML), the same public relations agency that managed her public life when she was a Hollywood figure, not a member of the royal family.
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis has a reputation as crisis communications experts, which might be fitting in this case. Maines’ departure at the end of last year reminded royal watchers that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have faced challenges when it comes to staff loyalty. Perhaps a return to a familiar agency—from which she has previously experienced good results—will put an end to the turnover.
A source who spoke with the Telegraph says that “SSML has been working on intermittent projects with the Duke and Duchess since 2017,” and “is currently working with its in-house team at As Ever and with the couple on specific initiatives in the US.”
Keleigh Thomas Morgan, a partner at the firm, was also a guest at Meghan and Harry’s 2018 wedding—and could now be the one to lead the couple’s communications strategy. Morgan is the one who aided in Meghan Markle’s transformation from actress to duchess and who, later, helped design the couple’s transition from the British royal family to financial independence under the label of Archewell, the foundation that Harry and Meghan created after ceasing their official duties and leaving their Kensington Palace office.
But after they settled in California, Meghan and Harry formed their own in-house team, trading the outside agency for a succession of workers who would last a breath at their side. For Harry, it might have been a familiar model, as the royal family typically communicates through a structure of secretaries, communications advisors, and assistants that function like a small court. But while London is a machine greased by centuries of tradition, Montecito has been a different story, with the couple’s reputation facing strong headwinds in recent years.
Founded in 1991, Sunshine Sachs has a solid reputation among celebrities. It was the agency that shielded Justin Timberlake after his infamous Super Bowl performance and the one that handled Ben Affleck‘s complex divorce from Jennifer Garner. According to The Telegraph, its client list also includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalie Portman, Barbra Streisand, and Jennifer Lopez. Will Meghan’s jams and candles sell even better under this new public relations relationship? As 2026 continues, we shall see.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.vanityfair.com ’
