Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s chief of staff quits ahead of couple’s Colombia trip: Report

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have lost their newly-installed Chief of Staff just days before they embark on a tour of Colombia.

In May, the royal couple brought on seasoned executive Josh Kettler to join their office. The Santa Barbara resident came to the Sussexes with experience at companies such as Patagonia, Lions Gate Films, Cognixion and Better Place Forests.

“Kettler is no longer working for them,” one source told Daily Mail on Monday, August 12.

Josh Kettler, former Chief of Staff for Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, arrives at The Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 08, 2024 in London, England. Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation

The exec, who describes himself as “experienced executive accelerator, organizer, and confidant” on his LinkedIn profile, was with Prince Harry, 39, when he traveled to London in May to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Harry founded the games as a sports competition for both active and retired military service members from around the world who are wounded, injured or sick.

Kettler, who has an undergraduate degree from San Diego State and an MBA from Clemson University, joined the duke at a special service held at St. Paul’s Cathedral to honor the anniversary. While Harry’s uncle Earl Spencer was also present, no member of the Royal Family attended.

Britain’s Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan (L), Duchess of Sussex, take part in activities as they arrive at the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. AFP via Getty Images

Kettler also recently traveled with Harry on another trip abroad, a three-day tour of Nigeria in July that also saw Meghan take part. A nod to his senior position, Kettler was with the prince as he met with government officials during the visit.

However, Meghan and Harry won’t be able to call on Kettler to support them as they embark on their latest voyage to Colombia on Thursday. The pair are scheduled to visit Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali in what has been described as a “quasi-royal tour,” given that the Sussexes are no longer official emissaries of the British Royal Family.

It is not yet known why Kettler left his position. The Post has reached out to representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.

Britain’s Meghan (C), Duchess of Sussex, and Britain’s Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex, arrive at a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. AFP via Getty Images

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet with the Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on May 10, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria. Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation

With his resignation, Kettler becomes the sixth staff member to leave Meghan and Harry’s employ since they established their Archewell organization in 2020 shortly following their retiring from life as senior working members of the Firm.

That number does not include the recent exit of the CEO of the Invictus Games, the prince’s pal Harry Reid, who left the nonprofit after 10 years, calling it “the right time.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images for W+P

Speaking about the nature of these many departures, one former Archewell employee recently told Daily Mail: “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.”

Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose for a photo as they attend the program held in the Armed Forces Complex in Abuja, Nigeria on May 11, 2024. Anadolu via Getty Images

It is unclear whether Prince Harry and Meghan will appoint an interim Chief of Staff as they prepare to travel to Colombia, no doubt facing busy itineraries.

The trip appears to be connected to Meghan and Harry’s work on promoting safer digital environments, especially where young people are concerned. The first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, will be taking place in Colombia this November, and children’s digital safety will be on the agenda.

Britain’s Meghan (L), Duchess of Sussex, and Britain’s Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex arrive at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. AFP via Getty Images

Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez, who invited the couple to the country, has said the conference “will present a global framework for creating safer physical and virtual spaces, addressing issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation and the impact of these threats on mental health.”

She added, “During their visit, the Duke and Duchess, as well as the Archewell Foundation, will take part in a number of activities related to this important topic.”

Britain’s Prince Harry (L), Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan (R), Duchess of Sussex, attend an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered, a community-based charitable organization dedicated to aiding wounded, injured, or sick servicemembers, as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary in Abuja, Nigeria on May 11, 2024. Anadolu via Getty Images

A topic the Montecito residents will likely want to avoid during their time in South America is Prince Harry’s prior use of cocaine. On Sunday, August 10, a source who described themselves as a “friend of Prince William” told The Daily Beast that, while in Colombia, Harry should apologize for using cocaine, which the royal admitted to in his 2023 memoir, “Spare.”

“His trip to Colombia should include an admission that the country has been destroyed by narco-terrorists servicing wealthy drug users in the West, and he should stand up and apologize for his own participation in that disgusting trade,” the Prince of Wales’ alleged friend said. “That would be a helpful intervention.”

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