MEGHAN and Harry have assembled a crack team – including a former aide of Nick Clegg, a movie producer and a celebrity lawyer – to win the royal briefing war.
The couple are surrounded by experts dubbed the ‘LA spin machine’ after it was revealed the Queen will no longer remain silent against “mistruths”.
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The nine include US spin doctor Toya Holness, who recently stepped in to pour oil on troubled waters after the Duke and Duchess named their daughter Lilibet.
The 33-year-old told journalists the couple wouldn’t have chosen the name without the Queen’s backing – after the BBC alleged the monarch wasn’t consulted on the use of her childhood nickname.
It comes after the pair threatened to drag the Corporation to court after reporters quoted a source from the Palace.
The row is understood to have sent Her Majesty “over the edge” – and she will in future “respond robustly” to briefings from allies of Harry and Meghan.
It comes as:
- Prince Charles is to ensure grandson Archie, two, will never be a prince
- William thought Meghan had an ‘agenda’, a bombshell book reveals
- And he ‘simply didn’t want Meghan and Harry around’ before tearing their households asunder, it’s claimed
- A pal of Meghan’s claims ‘several’ conversations were had by the Royal Family about the colour of Archie’s skin before he was born
- Meghan and Harry were paid a staggering £486,000 per minute for their single Spotify episode
But Ms Holness is just one of those surrounding the royal couple – and briefing friendly media with stories about them.
The advisers are described – bafflingly – as part of “a rapidly expanding team that’s deeply dedicated to advancing systemic cultural change and supporting compassionate communities across the world”, the Mail reports.
Christine Schirmer leads communications for the couple. She worked as a corporate comms manager at Apple and for San Francisco-based marketing company Digg before taking on the role.
Cambridge graduate Jenny Afia is the go-to solicitor for Meghan and Harry – and is likely leading the threats to the BBC,
She won the Young Solicitor of the Year title at the 2008 British Legal Awards and works for super-firm Schillings for celebrity clients.
James Holt, a major part of the team, started his career as a local reporter in Shropshire before becoming an adviser to Nick Clegg when the ex politician was deputy PM.
He was promoted to head of Government communications at Downing Street before taking on a job with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
After five years, he started work with Meghan and Harry – and in March was promoted to executive director of their Archewell Foundation.
Ben Browning, a new hire, is an Oscar-nominated producer who will lead the couple’s multi-million pound deals with Netflix and Spotify.
In March, he became head of content for the creative arm of charity Archewell.
Mr Browning, the former production president of FilmNation, was just nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture.
But he was also linked to a controversial film about Harry’s mother, Princess Diana.
Provisionally titled Inquest, the movie is still classed as ‘in development’ – although the credit has been removed from a list of his work on film industry website IMDb.
Keleigh Thomas Morgan, a long-time friend of Meghan’s and a guest at the couple’s wedding, serves as PR adviser and partner at Sunshine Sachs & Associates.
Meghan’s former talent agent Nick Collins stopped working for her earlier this year – but has since taken on a new job as a consultant.
Another long-time friend of the Duchess is also on Team Sussex.
Actress Janina Gavankar isn’t on the payroll – but frequently appears on TV to contradict any criticism.
When Meghan was accused of bullying her staff at the Palace, Gavankar called the royal “kind, strong, open” – and said: “Here’s what she’s NOT: a ‘bully’. ANY of us who know her, feel the same thing.”
The Duchess fiercely denies claims of bullying, and says she is the victim of a smear campaign.
Meanwhile, the couple’s former chief of staff, Catherine St-Laurent, stepped down from her position after less than a year.
However, she’s said to be continuing on as a ‘senior adviser’ – and provides “daily guidance and support” to the pair.
When she decided to quit in March this year, she was one of 13 key aides to leave the Sussexes.
