The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s renowned personal secretary is set to leave her role after the birth of their child in spring – just weeks after another aide suddenly resigned.
Samantha Cohen, 50, is a key member of Meghan’s Kensington Palace staff and her departure will fuel rumours that the Duchess is difficult to work for.
Ms Cohen is nicknamed ‘Samantha the Panther’ and was also one of the Queen’s most trusted aides having served as a communications secretary and spent 17 years working for the royals.
Meghan’s personal assistant Melissa Touabti also quit, just six months after the Royal wedding at Windsor Castle in May.
Ms Cohen is believed to have joined Harry and Meghan’s household on an interim basis in early 2018.
The Duchess is reported to have been keen to hire her permanently – but Ms Cohen is not thought to have been keen on the idea.
Reported in the Sunday Times, a source close to Meghan said: ‘Sam will be a huge loss.
‘Going forward, Meghan might need someone cut from a slightly different cloth to traditional courtiers, who is not a career civil servant or royal insider’.
The source also revealed the Duchess’ early morning routine and warned that new aides would have to be adaptable and patient.
The Duchess has previously said that she wakes up at 4.30am to do yoga, which ‘heals the mind’.
Ms Cohen is held in high regard among the royal family.
She was the first woman to ever hold the press secretary’s job and was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen in 2016.
From Australia, she has been described as well-liked and ‘unstuffy’ and was seen as the perfect aide for Meghan to settle in the royal family.
Sources claim that she also advised Meghan on her make-up and helped her understand the intricacies of the royal family.
She was spotted with the Duchess during Meghan’s first solo engagement with the Queen and also attended the royal wedding.
Meanwhile, Ms Touabti left her job at Kensington Palace just six months after Meghan married into the Royal Family.
Royal insiders were stunned at the abrupt and sudden departure.
After Meghan’s PA quit, a Palace source was authorised to pay tribute to her and the role she played in helping organise Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
‘Melissa is a hugely talented person,’ the source said. ‘She played a pivotal role in the success of the Royal Wedding and will be missed by everyone in the Royal Household.’
SOURCE: Daily Mail, by DANYAL HUSSAIN
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