Revealed: Sussexes' outgoing chief of staff was hired to 'guide' Harry 'through his next phase' before departing three months later - as sources claim 'he was only handed job on a trial basis'
When Harry and Meghan's outgoing chief of staff was hired just three months ago sources dubbed him as the perfect man to 'guide' the Duke 'through his next phase'.
But now, as the Daily Mail revealed Josh Kettering was departing from his role, insiders close to the royal couple are claiming the experienced staffer was only handed the job on a 'trial basis'.
Mr Kettering was hired by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex earlier in May just weeks ahead of their 'quasi-royal tour' in Nigeria.
He was pictured alongside the pair during the visit after being spotted accompanying Harry to the 10th anniversary ceremony of the Invictus Games at St Paul's Cathedral, while Meghan stayed at home.
Yet just days before the pair are due to fly out to Colombia for another so-called 'DIY royal tour' it was announced Mr Kettering, who was the former chief of staff of communication platform Cognixion, had left the job.
Josh Kettler arrives at St Paul's Cathedral in London for Harry's Invictus Games service in May
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Josh Kettler (circled) by their side while in Nigeria in May
It marks the latest blow for the Californian-based couple who have lost at least 18 members of staff staff since they married in 2018
A source in California told the Mail yesterday: 'Josh Kettler is no longer working for them.'
A former member of staff also told the newspaper: '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. Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments.'
Yet today insiders close to Harry and Meghan hit back telling the US magazine People that Mr Kettering was only 'hired on a trial basis, the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it wasn't the right fit'.
It marks the latest blow for the Californian-based couple who have lost at least 18 members of staff staff since they married in 2018. Around nine of those have left since they left Britain for the United States in 2020.
The revolving door of staffers shows that ongoing issue the Sussexes' are having in retaining staff in recent years after losing several key members from their company Archewell.
The blow comes as Harry and Meghan prepare to travel to Columbia later this week after being invited by the country's vice president Francia Marquez.
Ms Marquez, a lawyer and human rights and environmental activist, said the pair would join her in visiting the capital Bogota, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.
Harry and Meghan at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12 during their tour of Nigeria
Harry and Meghan are set to tour Colombia at the invitation of the country's vice president Francia Marquez, who is pictured at the Festival Of Culture in New Orleans on July 6
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that it 'advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia'. The areas affected are those shaded in orange in the above map
Details of the couple's itinerary have not yet been released, but the vice president said they would engage in several activities related to safeguarding young people online and in physical spaces.
The all-but-in-name Royal tour is the Sussexes's second this year, after their three-day visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the West African nation's chief of defence staff.
Harry and Meghan stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020 and no longer travel at the request of the UK Government on official overseas royal visits.
The Foreign Office warns against all but essential travel to certain parts of Colombia, with kidnapping rates remaining high.
It describes the country as 'seriously afflicted by conflict' with a resurgence in violence in parts of Colombia despite the peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) movement to end the civil war.
Harry maintained last month that it was 'still dangerous' for Meghan to return to the UK.
He lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office in February over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK, but he has been given the green light to appeal.
During the case, the court was told Harry believes his children cannot 'feel at home' in the UK if it is 'not possible to keep them safe' there and that he faces a greater risk than his late mother, with 'additional layers of racism and extremism'.
