Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s former chief of staff lifts lid on working for couple

Catherine St-Laurent worked as Chief of Staff for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for just under a year and a half, and was also the Executive Director of their Archewell Foundation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were once lauded for their potential to be “influential” by their former chief of staff, Catherine St-Laurent.

St-Laurent served the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as Chief of Staff from April 2020 until March 2021. During this time, she also held the position of Executive Director of their Archewell Foundation. Upon her departure, the communications advisor spoke with The Cut, reflecting on her experience working with the Montecito-based couple.

She expressed: “It was an incredible experience. They are incredibly talented and creative leaders. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to do that, to be able to be with them on their journey … The time that I spent with them was incredibly fulfilling.”

 

They were given a wonderful review (Image:(Image: Getty))

Meghan is finishing up her Netflix series (Image:Anadolu via getty Images)
Catherine discussed the Archewell Foundation and emphasized: “I think they [Harry and Meghan] have the potential to be very influential leaders in the social-impact space.”

St-Laurent’s remarks stand in stark contrast to some less-than-generous comments made by a British journalist about Meghan during a Royal tour with Prince Harry, prior to their departure from the Royal Family.

Rebecca English of The Daily Mail alleged that the duchess “turned and hissed” at a staff member, reducing them to “tears.” English, who accompanied the couple on their tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji in the fall of 2018, recounted the incident which supposedly occurred in Fiji.

The pair faced brutal allegations
She penned: “I was there at the time and witnessed Meghan turn and ‘hiss’ at a member of her entourage, clearly incandescent with rage about something, and demand to leave. I later saw that same – female – highly distressed member of staff sitting in an official car, with tears running down her face. Our eyes met and she lowered hers, humiliation etched on her features.”

Meghan and Harry have been busy with plenty of media ventures, keeping their organization busy. However, they were hit immediately with some criticism as Meghan finished her Netflix crafting a series aimed at celebrating the simple pleasures of cooking, gardening, hosting, and camaraderie.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams recently shared with us: “It [the Sussexes’ deal with Netflix] runs out next year and Netflix are no longer producing the series of The Crown, as they previously were. They might therefore have less interest in the Sussexes.”

“If they lost this contract, with Archewell, their business and charitable foundation, having so few donors, they might well be in financial trouble. Since their exposes of royal life has made megabucks, but little else has made money, the Royal Family better hope that this unpredictable and ruthlessly ambitious couple stays with Netflix.”