In a move raising eyebrows on both sides of the Atlantic, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hired a new Director of Communications with a striking connection to The Crown, the very Netflix series that has stirred deep controversy within the British royal family.
Emily Robinson, a former publicist on The Crown from seasons 3 to 6, has now joined the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s team. Her appointment is being widely interpreted as a sign that the couple is firmly steering away from any reconciliation efforts with the royal family.
Robinson’s departure from The Crown came in April 2024, just months after the release of the show’s most contentious season. Season 6 depicted several explosive and sensitive events, including Prince Harry’s infamous Nazi costume scandal, Princess Diana’s controversial BBC Panorama interview, and even a fictionalized scene in which the late Princess Diana’s ghost speaks to Queen Elizabeth II.
A source close to the Netflix production told the Mail that Robinson was “always very charming and supportive” to the show’s creator, Peter Morgan, and to the cast. “She is one of the breed of publicists who think that the talent can do no wrong,” the insider said.
They added: “In the circumstances, it’s almost beyond belief that Harry and Meghan would hire someone straight from The Crown.” The timing and optics of the hire are drawing particular scrutiny, given the royal family’s long-standing discomfort with the dramatized portrayals of their private lives.
While Buckingham Palace has refrained from officially commenting on the Netflix series, many royal watchers see Robinson’s new role as yet another step away from any potential rapprochement.
Interestingly, Prince Harry himself has publicly expressed support for the show in the past. In a 2021 interview with James Corden, he stated: “I’m way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife, or myself.”
He later confirmed that he had watched the series. Since stepping down from royal duties in 2020, the Sussexes have charted a new course in the U.S., involving media ventures, philanthropic projects, and high-profile interviews. With Robinson now steering their public image, many see this as a clear indication that the couple intends to double down on their independent identity, regardless of how it may be received across the pond.