Meghan gets her own new high-powered press chief who worked for Bill and Hillary Clinton as she and Harry split from Kate and Wills by getting their own dedicated staff
- The Queen has agreed to set up a Household for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
- As part the shake-up Harry and Meghan have named Sara Latham as press chief
- Ms Latham worked in Bill Clinton’s White House and for Tony Blair’s Labour party
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to have their own household, in a split from William and Kate’s royal personnel.
The Queen has agreed to the creation of a Household for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and given permission for it to be based at Buckingham Palace.
As part of the shake-up, Harry and Meghan have named high-flying PR guru Sara Latham – who has worked for Bill and Hillary Clinton – as their new dedicated head of communications.
The new Household is likely to be created following the birth of the couple’s first child, expected in April.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to have their own household, in a split from William and Kate’s royal personnel
Ms Latham, believed to be a British-American dual citizen, worked in the White House in the Bill Clinton era as an assistant to the President.
She also served as an adviser for Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 presidential campaign, according to her online CV.
In addition she was recruited into British politics in 2005 to help Tony Blair’s Labour party in that year’s general election campaign.
She founded her own company – the Latham Group – in 2006 and more recently had been a managing partner at London-based PR firm Freuds, overseeing global corporate accounts.
Her LinkedIn page also shows her working for Philip Gould Associates, a polling firm founded by a New Labour aide, in the mid-2000s.
Ms Latham will report directly to the Queen’s communications secretary.
Princes Harry and William remain joint patrons, with their wives, of the Royal Foundation, the primary charitable body for the Cambridges and Sussexes.
They could still work together on big projects like their Heads Together mental health campaign.
Buckingham Palace announced the development in a statement: ‘The Queen has agreed to the creation of a new Household for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, following their marriage in May last year.
‘The Household, which will be created with the support of The Queen and The Prince of Wales, will be established in the spring.
Harry and Meghan have named high-flying PR guru Sara Latham (pictured) – who has worked for Bill and Hillary Clinton – as their new dedicated head of communications
‘The Duke of Sussex currently has his own private office, which has been supporting the Duchess since Their Royal Highness’s engagement in November 2017.
‘This long-planned move will ensure that permanent support arrangements for The Duke and Duchess’s work are in place as they start their family and move to their official residence at Frogmore Cottage.’
The Sussexes and Cambridges’ current communications head Jason Knauf will stay with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but become their senior adviser.
His responsibilities will include advising on their charitable initiatives – including work on the environment, mental health, and early childhood – and supporting a review of the charitable structures that underpin their work.
Christian Jones has taken over as communications secretary to William and Kate.