Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s global press secretary who heaped praise on her boss amid ‘Duchess Difficult’ claims steps away from her role as she launches her own firm

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s global press secretary have announced she will step down from her role with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to set up her own company.

Ashley Hansen, the couple’s PR chief for more than two years, recently praised her boss after an article in the Hollywood Reporter last month called Meghan “Duchess Difficult” and accused her of bringing grown men to tears.

Ashley jumped to the duchess’ defense and felt “personally supported” by the Montecito-based mother of two and her royal husband.

And she certainly hasn’t completely broken off with the couple, as the Sussexes will be clients at her LA-based consultancy Three Gate Strategies.

Ashley will continue to represent and advise the Duke and Duchess, while overseeing their international communications team.

Commenting on the change, Meghan said in a statement: “We are so proud of Ashley, especially as a female entrepreneur.

“We look forward to her focused expertise on our business and creative projects and her continued oversight of our communications team.

“My husband and I are thrilled to be working with Ashley to build something extraordinarily special with her company.”

Meanwhile, Ashley said: “I am incredibly grateful to the Duke and Duchess for their continued confidence in me. Their continued support and belief in my new company has been extremely meaningful and is a testament to their leadership.

“When they first hired me, I knew they were giving me the opportunity of a lifetime and I couldn’t be happier to continue working with them.”

Three Gates Strategies’ client base specializes in communications and brand management for high-profile individuals and organizations and includes high-profile individuals in entertainment, technology and finance.

The business – which is fully backed by the Duke and Duchess – was created after Ashley was approached by other clients looking for the high-quality advice she has provided to the Sussexes.

The name of the company is derived from the Persian poet Rumi: ‘Let your words pass through three gates before you speak. Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it friendly?’

Ashley Hansen, the couple’s PR chief for more than two years, recently praised her boss after an article in the Hollywood Reporter last month called Meghan (pictured with Harry in July 2024) “Duchess Difficult” and called her out accused of reducing adult men. to tears

Stirred by the recent allegations in The Hollywood Reporter, Ashley was among a series of loyal current and former aides of the Sussexes who gave a glowing account of their working lives to US Weekly magazine in the United States.

Ashley said they treated her with “the kind of concern and care that a parent would express if it was their own child” when she took time off for surgery, adding that they also sent flowers and gifts.

“Meghan personally contacted my husband daily to make sure we were doing well and had support. It meant so much to him and even more to me. You don’t realize how much that kind of kindness and thought means until you need it,” she insisted.

Despite praise from both sides about Ashley’s new venture, she is the 19th person to quit working for the Sussexes, following Josh Kettler who quit as chief of staff in August after just three months.

But Josh insists he was ‘warmly welcomed’ by both Harry and Meghan, describing them as ‘dedicated and hardworking’.

The Hollywood Reporter exposé claiming the Duchess was a ‘dictator in high heels’ came from someone ‘very high up’ who still worked for the couple, it was claimed.

That article also stated that Meghan “doesn’t take advice” and has “brought grown men to tears” while “barking” orders.

The Hollywood Reporter also described the couple as “poor decision makers” who “change their minds often.”

Ashley (pictured) will continue to represent and advise the Duke and Duchess, while overseeing their international communications team

Three Gates Strategies’ client base specializes in communications and brand management for high-profile individuals and organizations and includes high-profile individuals in entertainment, technology and finance

Maer Roshan, the publication’s co-editor-in-chief, has subsequently said he stands by the story, despite a backlash among the Sussexes’ supporters.

Mr Roshan said they had spoken to around a dozen people who had worked closely with Harry and Meghan “now and previously”.

He also told Access Hollywood that “our reporter spoke to a very senior source who works for the couple and said everyone is terrified of Meghan.” They say the Duchess ‘denigrates people’ and ‘doesn’t take advice’.

Although they have not officially commented, a source ‘close’ to Harry and Meghan previously dismissed the claims.

They also pointed out that a note in her email signature stating that staff should not feel obligated to respond outside normal business hours was further evidence that she was not demanding.

Meghan herself has strongly denied the claims of staff bullying, claiming they were part of a ‘calculated smear campaign’.

Roshan added: “Duchess Difficult is a nickname that has haunted Meghan for a number of years.

“What’s new is that this idea, since it has come to America, that many of these rumors have been manufactured by the Palace and the reporting that we have done suggests that this is probably not true and that there is still an undercurrent of fear is.’

Buckingham Palace launched its own investigation after the bullying allegations were made public, but refused to make the findings public.