Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have just lost another one of their most loyal inner-circle players - and if you've been following Team Sussex since the Megxit meltdown days, this name will definitely ring bells! James Holt, AKA the guy who has been described as their rock through everything from fleeing the UK to Spare to Netflix confessionals, is officially OUT! Yes, the longtime fixer, advisor, Archewell boss, and emotional support human has quit. And before the Sussex Squad starts spiraling, there's a lot going on here that feels way more complicated than a simple goodbye. Related: Harry & Meghan Release Holiday Card & Video - Right After William & Kate Dropped Theirs! So, Holt had been running the couple's Archewell Foundation charity since 2021, after previously serving as their PR chief during the most turbulent chapter of their lives when Harry and Meghan peaced out of royal life, crossed the pond, and set up shop in California. Holt didn't just advise from afar, either. He followed them to El Lay and even popped up in their Netflix doc! So why leave now? Sources told DailyMail.com on Monday that Holt is headed back to London with his husband and young child, and apparently running a US-based charity from across the Atlantic would be a governance nightmare. Makes sense! And yet... the timing is eyebrow-raising, especially since Archewell is dealing with multiple major internal shakeups including layoffs and some financial questions that critics are already sharpening their knives over. The Sussex camp insists this isn't a total breakup. A spokesperson told the DM that Holt will stay on as a senior philanthropic advisor and even support humanitarian trips overseas in 2026. One anonymous source added: "He will be supporting the Duke with a number of engagements over the next 12 months." Another source painted a more emotional picture of what's really happening behind closed doors, too: "He's frustrated that his moving back to the UK is coming at a time of transition for the Duke and Duchess, hence his staying on for a few months yet to manage things at Archewell. He's very protective of the couple and anxious this is going to cause them grief." For a while, there was no official confirmation that Holt was actually on the way out. But after renewed poking around from the press in the last few days, the couple finally confirmed on Sunday that James is indeed moving on. And Holt himself released a statement that was basically a love letter to Harry and Meghan - but most especially Meghan! He said: "Working with Prince Harry and Meghan has been one of the great privileges of my career. From my first project with Prince Harry eight years ago to improve mental health support for soldiers in the British military, to our recent work helping injured children in Gaza, he has consistently challenged me to think bigger about how we can make a difference. From the moment I met Meghan, I recognized a kindred spirit - someone who finds joy even in difficult moments and connects authentically with people regardless of circumstance." He didn't stop there, either: "Above everything else, the work we've done together to support families affected by online harm will remain the most meaningful of my professional life. These families are extraordinary, and they inspire me every day. After five incredible years in Los Angeles, it's time for my family to return to London. When I pass the baton to the team leading Archewell Philanthropies in the coming months, I'll do so with immense pride and optimism for what lies ahead. I'll miss my colleagues deeply, and I'm grateful to Harry and Meghan for everything they've done - for me, and for the countless people we've worked to support." Harry and Meghan responded with their own glowing tribute, as well: "James has been a stellar support for us for nearly ten years. His enthusiasm and talent in overseeing our philanthropic endeavors have been extraordinary. As James moves his young family back to the UK, we are proud that he will continue to guide various humanitarian trips for us overseas through Archewell Philanthropies." Still, let's be real: Holt's exit comes at a messy moment. Archewell has let go of staffers, their Chief Communications Officer has decided to leave after less than a year, expenses are climbing, grants are lagging behind donations, and Holt himself was paid a reported $245,000 last year. Oh, and eagle-eyed critics noticed he was missing from a recent Archewell team photo, too, which now feels very telling. So, is this a graceful transition or the canary in the Montecito coal mine? Time will tell. But one thing's for sure: when your closest advisor of nearly a decade walks away, even politely, it's never nothing. Stay tuned... [Image via MEGA/WENN] The post Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Closest Advisor Just Quit After Working For Them For YEARS -- Right As Their Chief Communications Officer Leaves, Too! appeared first on Perez Hilton.