Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hired Emily Robinson, a former Netflix publicity executive who led global campaigns for The Crown, to manage their U.S. communications-a move that has sparked sharp criticism and intensified already strained relations with the British royal family.
Robinson, who promoted The Crown during some of its most controversial seasons, will now oversee global publicity efforts for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Her hiring comes after a wave of departures from the couple's Archewell Foundation and press team, including senior figures in Los Angeles, Europe, and the U.K.
"In the circumstances, it's almost beyond belief that Harry and Meghan would hire someone straight from The Crown," a source told The Express. The Netflix series, frequently accused of distorting royal history, has long been a point of contention for the monarchy. A senior royal source previously described the show as "trolling on a Hollywood budget."
During Robinson's tenure, The Crown ran storylines that included Prince Harry wearing a Nazi costume, a dramatized version of Princess Diana's Panorama interview, and a fictional scene in which Diana appears as a ghost speaking to Queen Elizabeth II. The palace declined to comment on the new hire, but a close friend of Prince William told The Daily Mail: "It's incredibly hurtful to have his mother exploited over and over again in this tawdry fashion by Netflix."
Robinson's appointment follows a period of upheaval in the Sussexes' inner circle. At least 20 team members have departed since the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020. In the last month alone, four staffers have left, including deputy press secretary Kyle Boulia and U.K. press officer Charlie Gipson.
"This stands as another indication of the dysfunction and instability within their household," said royal commentator Hilary Fordwich in remarks published by OK! Magazine. "Highly qualified professionals from many top-notch firms have previously struggled to thrive under the Sussexes. This latest bloodbath serves as solid confirmation."
Robinson's appointment is widely seen by royal watchers as a provocative gesture, especially following a court decision in May that stripped Prince Harry of state-funded security during visits to the U.K. In a subsequent television interview, Harry said he would not return to Britain with his family, citing a lack of contact with his father, King Charles. He "won't speak to me," Harry claimed.
At the same time, the royal family has continued to publicly distance itself from the Sussexes. During the Trooping the Colour festivities in June, Charles, Queen Camilla, and other senior royals appeared without Harry and Meghan for the third consecutive year. A lip reader cited by The Globe claimed to have observed Charles and Camilla discussing the estranged prince during a carriage procession, with Charles allegedly saying, "We will tackle it sooner or later. It's all very messy and I will talk to Harry. That'll be fun."
The hire has also reignited speculation about Prince William's long-standing opposition to his brother's actions. One royal expert told The Globe: "Hiring Robinson was the final slap in the face. This clearly shows that Harry has zero intentions of reconciling with his family."
