Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lose another major staff member just ahead of quasi-royal Colombia tour

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been dealt a significant blow as their newly appointed chief of staff, Josh Kettler, has reportedly resigned just three months into the role.

The sudden departure, confirmed by sources in California, comes at a particularly challenging time for the couple, who are set to embark on a high-profile tour of Colombia this week.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Chief of Staff Josh Kettler quits ahead of Colombia tour

Josh Kettler, who was touted as the ideal candidate to "guide" Prince Harry through his next phase, joined the Duke on a visit to London in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. He also played a key role in the couple's visit to Nigeria earlier this year, where Harry met with government officials.

However, his brief tenure now underscores the ongoing difficulties the Sussexes have faced in retaining staff.

A source in California shared with the Daily Mail that "Josh Kettler is no longer working for them."

Kettler's departure adds to the growing list of staff members who have left the Sussexes since their marriage in 2018. The total number is said to be at least 18, with more than nine resignations since the couple moved to Montecito, California in 2020. 

A former staff member remarked, "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 on their staff say they would take the job again if given the chance. These aren't employees they had just found off the streets."

They added, "Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments."

Kettler, believed to be of American origin, previously held a position at Cognixion, a company specializing in medical equipment. 

The manager of Archewell Productions, which makes TV shows and films, Bennet Levine, quit in January after two years at the firm. He worked on the couple’s Netflix documentary before resigning from his position. 

In December 2022, Rebecca Sananes, who was hired to work on Meghan's Spotify podcast 'Archetypes', resigned. Oscar-nominated producer Ben Browning, who served as the Sussexes' head of internal content, quit in January 2023. 

Another major blow came when Mandana Dayani, the CEO of Archewell, the charitable foundation of Meghan and Harry stepped down after a year and a half in the position. 

Meghan has also encountered a setback in launching her latest venture, the cooking and lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard. Despite interviewing several candidates, she has yet to secure a chief executive officer for the brand, which the Duchess hopes will become a lucrative business focusing on home, garden, food, and lifestyle products.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry prepare for a four-day tour of Colombia

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are preparing to jet off on a four-day tour of Colombia, a country grappling with significant crime rates. The tour, which has been dubbed "quasi-royal," begins on Thursday, August 15, and will take the couple to the capital city of Bogota, the historic coastal city of Cartagena, and Cali, where they will participate in a cultural festival.

The visit is at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez, who praised the opportunity for Harry and Meghan to engage with Colombian communities and showcase the nation's cultural richness and innovation.

In a statement, Marquez wrote, "I am pleased to announce that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country."

She added, "During their stay, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will join me on visits to Bogota and to the Pacific and Caribbean regions, in Cartagena and Cali respectively. In these wonderful places they will have a unique opportunity to engage with leaders, young people and women, who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress."

Harry's concerns about security in the UK have kept him, Meghan, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, from returning to Britain. Harry has cited the withdrawal of his taxpayer-funded security as a significant reason for avoiding the country since stepping down from royal duties.

This has led to heightened scrutiny of the couple's activities abroad, including their upcoming Colombian tour.