Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s chief of staff ‘wanted out’ after ‘having to fulfil more work than her job spec’
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry's chief of staff "wanted out" after "having to fulfil more work than her job spec", it was claimed today.
Catherine St-Laurent left a plum job with Bill and Melinda Gates to head up Harry and Meghan’s foundation last April - but it was revealed yesterday she had left the post.
👑 Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest news...
One well-placed claimed: “I think there was a sense that she was having to fulfil a great many functions for the couple – not all of which were necessarily in her job spec.
And while she said she was "honoured" at the time she was appointed, insiders claimed to the Sun she had become frustrated.
In a LinkedIn post, St-Laurent wrote: "It's been a privilege working closely with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex helping to establish Archewell Foundation in its first year."
Before joining the Sussexes, Ms St-Laurent was based in London and Brussels as she worked for HSBC and Vero Communications.
She also was named in PR Week’s 40 under 40 in 2014.
The Sun can reveal Meghan has also parted ways with Nick Collins, her agent since she was an unknown actress.
PR team Sunshine Sachs, which represented her when she was on Suits, has been shifted to the couple’s charity ventures.
At least nine other aides quit jobs when Meghan and Harry were working royals.
Their PR chief Sara Latham, who worked for Hillary Clinton, also left before being poached by the Queen.
SUSSEXES’ TURNOVER
AT least nine staff quit the Sussexes when they were still working royals.
In September 2018, Meghan’s former PA Melissa Touabti left after six months amid reports she had been “reduced to tears” by Meghan’s demands.
Weeks later, private secretary Samantha Cohen resigned after 17 years with the Royal Family.
Senior comms secretary Katrina McKeever also quit the press team in September. In January 2019, Meghan’s unnamed female bodyguard of six months quit.
In March, senior communications secretary Jason Knauf went to work for William and Kate. Three months later The Sun told how Meghan had three nannies in six weeks.
Meghan’s assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill also left that month, as did Harry’s private secretary Heather Wong, who joined his tourism project Travalyst, but has now quit that too.
PR chief Sara Latham was poached by the Queen. And Diversity campaigner Natalie Campbell quit in January 2020.
Another aide, Heather Wong, quit last month as director of Harry’s travel firm.
Ex-Lib Dem press officer James Holt has been promoted from their UK-based spokesman to replace Ms St-Laurent.
It comes after Buckingham Palace launched a probe into claims Meghan bullied aides when she was a working royal.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Meghan has denied bullying.
There is also no suggestion Ms St-Laurent has been bullied.