Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Received a Heartfelt Tribute by Former Archewell Director
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have received a heartfelt tribute from one of their closest former colleagues following his departure from the Archewell Foundation. Former executive director James Holt publicly reflected on his years working alongside the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in an emotional message shared online.
James Holt, who stepped down as Executive Director of Archewell in December 2025, is preparing to return to the United Kingdom for a new political role. He is set to begin a fresh chapter as Political Director of the Liberal Democrats.
Before officially taking up the position, Holt made his social media accounts public and shared several personal posts looking back on his time working with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. His comments quickly attracted attention from royal watchers and supporters.
In one emotional statement, Holt described his experience working with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as “one of the great privileges” of his professional career. The message highlighted the close working relationship developed over many years.
Holt explained that he first began collaborating with Prince Harry around eight years ago on projects aimed at improving mental health support for members of the British Armed Forces. Their partnership later expanded into multiple humanitarian initiatives.
According to Holt, he and Prince Harry worked together on a wide range of charitable causes over the years, including projects focused on supporting children injured during the conflict in Gaza. He praised Harry’s commitment to humanitarian work.
Speaking warmly about the Duke of Sussex, Holt said Prince Harry consistently encouraged him to “think bigger” about creating meaningful social change. He also praised Harry’s determination to make a lasting impact through charitable efforts.
The former Archewell executive reserved equally kind words for Meghan Markle while reflecting on their working relationship. Holt described the Duchess of Sussex as a “kindred spirit” from the very first time they met.
Among the many projects they worked on together, Holt said initiatives focused on helping families affected by online harm would remain the most meaningful work of his professional life. The issue has been one of Meghan and Harry’s key advocacy areas.
As he prepared to leave California and return to London with his family, Holt admitted that stepping away from Archewell marked the end of an important chapter in his life. He reflected positively on the organisation’s achievements during his time there.
Holt also revealed that he would hand over leadership responsibilities at Archewell Philanthropies with “immense pride and optimism” for the future. He thanked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their personal and professional support throughout the years.
In another touching social media post, Holt shared a photograph featuring himself, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and members of his own family. The image symbolised the close friendships formed during his years working with the Sussexes.
Alongside the photograph, Holt wrote an emotional message summarising the journey he experienced while working with Harry and Meghan. He wrote, “Eight years. Many stories. Two countries. And one very small person who wasn’t here when it all started.”
The former Archewell director concluded the tribute by thanking the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the experiences and memories they shared together over nearly a decade. His heartfelt comments offered a rare public glimpse into the personal loyalty surrounding the Sussexes’ inner circle.
