Harry & Meghan: Chief of staff reportedly ditches royals after just three months

When the Duke of Sussex appointed Josh Kettler as his grandly titled chief of staff earlier this year, it was said that he was the perfect man to “guide” Harry “through his next phase”.

However, it’s understood that Mr Kettler has suddenly left his job after scarcely three months, amid much intrigue.

“Josh Kettler is no longer working for them,” a source in California told this newspaper on Monday.

The timing is a particular blow to Harry and his wife Meghan as Mr Kettler would have been expected to accompany them on their “quasi-royal tour” of Colombia, which kicks off this week.

In May, Mr Kettler joined Harry on his visit to London to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, the sporting event the prince created for injured and sick service personnel.

Mr Kettler was seen entering St Paul’s Cathedral with the duke for the anniversary service, which was attended by figures including Harry’s uncle, Earl Spencer, but no other members of the Royal Family.

Later that month, Mr Kettler was a key figure on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s three-day “tour” of Nigeria and was by Harry’s side as he met government officials in the West African country.

His role on the visit was said to be a foretaste of what he would achieve in the future. Mr Kettler’s very brief time in his position highlights the difficulties that the Duke and Duchess have had retaining staff.

The total number the Sussexes have lost since they married in 2018 is said to be at least 18, with nine or more having left since they moved to California in 2020.

One former member of staff told the Daily Mail on Monday: “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 said speaking anonymously.

“Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments.”

Mr Kettler, who is thought to be American, had previously worked for Cognixion, a medical equipment manufacturer.

The Daily Mail Diary reported in April that the Duchess of Sussex had failed to find a chief executive officer for her new cooking and lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard, despite having interviewed several candidates.

Meghan is said to hope that the brand, which will focus on home, garden, food and lifestyle wares, will be highly lucrative.

On Thursday, Harry and Meghan will begin their four-day tour of crime-ravaged Colombia.

They will visit the capital Bogota, the historical colonial city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast and Cali, where they will attend a cultural festival.

Arriving at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez, the pair will, she says, “have the exceptional opportunity to engage with elders, youth and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians... and illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”.

Harry has claimed that Britain is too dangerous to visit with his wife and two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, after the withdrawal of his taxpayer-funded security following the couple’s decision to quit royal duties.

A spokesman for the duke was approached for comment.