London: Of all the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s staff departures of recent years – and there have been a few – this one will hit the hardest. James Holt, the long-serving and deeply loyal PR turned executive director, is leaving their charity.

After eight years at their side – or “nearly 10”, in the words of the Sussexes – he will shortly leave his role as the co-head of the US-based Archewell and move to that favourite role of Team Sussex departees: a “senior adviser” from afar.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, founded Archewell in 2020.Credit: AP

Working together had been “one of the great privileges” of his career, he said, during which he found a “kindred spirit” in the Duchess of Sussex and “immense pride and optimism” in their work.

The Sussexes, for their part, paid glowing tribute. They said Holt’s support had been “stellar” and his “enthusiasm and talent” were “extraordinary”.

Holt’s remaining colleagues speak highly of him and predict that he will not be able to stay away from the Sussex causes for too long.

He has promised to help out on “humanitarian trips” overseas next year and for Prince Harry’s future projects.

Harry with Archewell co-head James Holt at the Invictus Games in 2022.Credit: Getty Images

In the normal world, the departure of a senior member of staff after a relatively long tenure would not be headline news. Holt has good reason to seek a new challenge after working his way to the top of the Sussex employment ladder and staying there for some time.

But the Sussexes are not, and never have been, the normal world. His exit is the latest in a string of staff departures so long that there is no complete public record of........

© The Sydney Morning Herald