She’s Meghan Markle ‘s biggest supporter and the pair bear striking similarities in their personal lives. From being busy working …
She’s Meghan Markle‘s biggest supporter and the pair bear striking similarities in their personal lives.
From being busy working mums to sharing a love of dogs, Meredith Maines and the Duchess of Sussex have so much in common it is little surprise she was selected as chief of communications for Harry and Meghan’s Archewell foundation three months ago.
Living just miles apart in California, Mrs Maines shares Meghan’s history of working in the entertainment industry, and often advocates for women balancing busy careers and family life.
The mother-of-two is a fierce defender of Meghan on social media, having also taken on a second role of chief of comms for the Duchess’ new lifestyle brand, As Ever.
But Mrs Maines has also faced scrutiny this weekend after it was revealed she was the chief architect of Harry’s disastrous BBC interview, in which he launched another scathing attack on his family.
The Duke shocked producers on Friday after he spoke for 20 minutes over their agreed time for the emotionally charged chat, which took place just moments after he lost a legal challenge over his UK taxpayer funded security.
In the sit-down, Harry said he wanted to reconcile with his family, while alleging his ill father, King Charles III, was not speaking with him.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Mrs Maines has been working for the couple for three months, having previously held positions at entertainment streaming company Hulu, and venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Buckingham Palace statement after Harry’s bombshell interview
She proudly speaks out about being a ‘Wife and mom’, like Meghan, and often hypes up the Duchess’ achievements on social media.
Posting a link to a New York Times article titled ‘Inside Meghan’s Real Kitchen, Away From the Cameras’, Mrs Maines wrote: ‘This is what they call a chef’s kiss!’
A week later, linking to Fortune’s article titled ‘Duchess Meghan’s new podcast focuses on startup founder life at a moment of market turbulence’, Mrs Maines replied: ‘Thanks for capturing Meghan’s startup founder life so brilliantly.’
She quoted a passage of the article, which talks about how at 11-years-old, Meghan’s first business revolved around scrunchie hair ties.
‘I’d buy the remnants of fabric from the fabric store and elastics, and use my little home sewing machine to make scrunchies and sell them,’ Meghan told Fortune.
The article, quoted by Mrs Maines, then states: ‘In some ways, she is back where she started today – as she looks to make products that women may intermittently need, but decisively want.’
Having attended Stanford University between 2001 and 2005, where she studied English Literature and Music Composition, Mrs Maines was on the Stanford Equestrian Team, suggesting a love of horses.
Posting a horse and dog emoji on her social media bio, the comms chief is still implying an interest in horses today, showcasing a further similarity with Meghan whose husband Harry loves Polo.
The Duke of Sussex launched a diatribe against his family in an astonishing interview with the broadcaster on Friday
Mrs Maines then completed a Masters in Communications at Stanford University between 2005 and 2006.
In Harry’s BBC interview this weekend, architected by Mrs Maines, the Duke spoke of his family in England.
‘There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,’ Harry said.
‘Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things but… there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.’
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He continued: ‘Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has, he won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.’
Harry also said that he was ‘devastated’ after losing his court battle and claimed it was an ‘establishment stitch-up’.
He also chillingly insinuated his downgraded security status could leave him and his family to suffer the same fate as the late Princess Diana, who died in a fatal car crash in Paris in 1997.
Harry warned that without the same security provisions given to other senior members of the royal family, he has become a greater risk to ‘some people’ who wish him harm.
Speaking about his fears for himself, wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, he declared: ‘I don’t want history to repeat itself.
‘Through the [court] process, I have discovered that some people want history to repeat itself.’
Harry raged that ‘the other side’ in the court case had ‘won in keeping me unsafe’.
He added: ‘I’m sure that some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, consider this a huge win.’
The Duke also alleged the Royal Household exploited security ‘to imprison’ members of the Royal Family, blocking them ‘from being able to choose a different life’.
Harry LOSES appeal in battle for taxpayer-funded police protection
He said: ‘It’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.’
The Duke candidly spoke of the ‘many disagreements’ with his family, some of whom ‘may never forgive’ him for writing a book.
After the backlash surrounding the interview, Harry seemingly doubled down on his remarks in a statement he issued.
Calling the court ruling ‘a reckless action’ that ‘knowingly put me and my family in harm’s way,’ Harry went on to claim: ‘This legal action has been a last resort, but one that has uncovered shocking truths, starting with the fact that the Royal Household are key decision-makers on RAVEC and my sole representation for matters regarding my safety.’
Buckingham Palace rebuked Harry’s claims of a establishment stitch-up in a blunt statement.
A spokesperson said: ‘These issues have been examined meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion on each occasion.’
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