Advertisement

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hire 'crisis management' firm

Francesca Specter
·Yahoo Style UK deputy editor
Updated
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend "The Lion King" European Premiere at Leicester Square on July 14, 2019. [Photo: Getty]
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hired a 'crisis management' PR firm. Photo: Getty

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have hired a ‘crisis management’ PR firm used by Harvey Weinstein in order to help them in their public-facing endeavours, a representative for Buckingham Palace has confirmed to Yahoo.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have hired Sunshine Sachs to help them with a “major global initiative”. This is Travalyst, a sustainable travel initiative which Prince Harry launched in Amsterdam last month.

“The Duke of Sussex launched a major global initiative this week, which involved multiple corporations, each with their own PR teams and agencies,” a representative for Buckingham Palace told us.

“As Sussex Royal is very much in establishment mode, and still in its infancy, we asked Sunshine Sachs to support us on media outreach in the US for this event.”

Sunshine Sachs have previously represented the likes of disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein in 2015 after he was accused of groping Ambra Battilana Gutierrez.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 26: Harvey Weinstein exits court after an arraignment over a new indictment for sexual assault on August 26, 2019 in New York City. The new charges against the movie mogul are from an indictment involving the actor Annabella Sciorra. Weinstein plead not guilty on all charges and his sex-crimes trial has been delayed until January. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Harvey Weinstein exits court after an arraignment over a new indictment for sexual assault on August 26 2019 in New York City. [Photo: Getty]

It also represented the late Michael Jackson ahead of his death, after he was accused of paedophilia.

Other celebrity clientele include Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Natalie Portman, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Keleigh Thomas Morgan, who reportedly attended Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding on 19 May 2018, is said to be a friend of the Duchess’.

Unorthodox move

A royal insider told The Sun that Meghan and Harry’s choice of a Hollywood firm is unusual.

“Hiring a Hollywood firm to represent you for PR while a member of the Royal Family is unorthodox to say the least,” a royal insider told the publication.

“Senior palace courtiers have been left bemused over the last few months that the couple have been ignoring advice from their own highly-professional team and will instead listen to outsiders in Hollywood.

“But Meghan trusts Keleigh, who got a prime seat at her wedding and she’s known for years.”

The pair have recently faced criticism from the public after undertaking four private jet journeys in 11 days, and today royal expert Ingrid Seward accused Prince Harry of pushing the public away.

WELLINGTON, NZ - OCTOBER 28: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex lay ferns and a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior at the newly unveiled UK war memorial and Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, on October 28, 2018, in Wellington, New Zealand. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. (Photo by Rosa Woods - Pool/Getty Images)

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.