Prince Harry and Meghan have welcomed back two aides they were forced to let go in March, when the couple had to close their Sussex Royal Foundation as they ceased carrying out duties representing the Queen.
Now, as Harry and Meghan prepare to push out their new non-profit foundation Archewell into 2021 they’ve begun cementing key members of their new team, both in America and Britain.
Harry and Meghan recently announced the first project Archewell would tackle – funding food kitchens in disaster zones.
Clara Loughran and Beth Herlihy have been rehired by the duke and duchess to work on a freelance basis for Archewell’s charity projects.
They are among a new team rumoured to be worth more than $1 million.
Loughran, who was born in New Zealand, is married to Prince Harry’s former assistant communications secretary, Nick Loughran.
She was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order on Harry’s recommendation, given to those who have served the Queen or the monarchy with distinction.
The honour came after working for Harry since 2015, taking charge of his charity endeavours and official engagements.
Beth Herlihy
Herlihy previously worked as program manager for the Sussexes from September, 2018, until March. Prior to that she was employed as an events co-ordinator for the Royal Foundation, established by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Much like Meghan, Herlihy has also had her share of fame on the small screen prior to her royal career.
Herlihy once played a stripper called ‘Honey’ in Hollyoaks Later, a spin-off from the popular British soap Hollyoaks, under her stage name Bethan Coundley, according to the Mail Online.
She was also pictured modelling in skin-tight costume for a photoshoot in 2012, reminiscent of the iconic red bodysuit worn by Britney Spears.
Herlihy had ditched her acting career to pursue a career with the royal family.
After their taxpayer-funded roles came to an end in March, along with 11 other staff employed by Harry and Meghan, both Herlihy and Loughran had moved on to form a venture-capital firm that connected the wealthy to worthy causes.
Called Herlihy Loughran, its website describes the company “an advisory partnership that links influential people and organisations to good causes, bringing ideas to life and turning intention into real, purposeful action”.
Other members of the Sussex team include:
Their chief of staff and executive director of Archewell is Catherine St Laurent. St Laurent’s credentials include working for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which – much like Harry and Meghan – has a focus on gender equality, health and education.
The couple’s new press secretary in the US is Toya Holness, who previously worked for Endeavor, formerly the William Morris Agency, one of the most famous talent agencies in Hollywood.
Christine Weil Schirmer is head of communications. She studied at Northwestern University in Illinois, much like Meghan, and had previously worked for the popular website Pinterest.
In the UK, Harry and Meghan’s public relations head is James Holt. The duke and duchess also have a range of other staff on their payroll including PAs, producers working on their film and Archewell Audio productions and the domestic staff employed to work at their Montecito mansion.