Meet the woman taking on the Markles for Meghan and Harry

Sara Latham, Meghan and Harry’s new head of communications, boasts quite an impressive CV.

As well as acting as Hillary Clinton’s former campaign advisor, Lathem’s also worked in the White House under Bill Clinton in the late 1990s, before moving to the UK as government affairs advisor at Microsoft Europe.

Additionally, she spent two years as special advisor to the late Tessa Jowell when she was culture secretary, during Tony Blair’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The hire was an “interesting” one, says PR expert Nick Ede who thinks that the Sussexes are “quite political” with the work they do.

“We need somebody who has done crisis management because there are lots of occasions where potentially things could happen and the media could get hold of something and run away with it, and I think it’s really important for somebody to be there and give them clear instructions on how things should be progressing,” Nick Ede toldYahoo UK‘s The Royal Box.

“So I think it’s a very, very good hire and I think it’s very interesting that they’ve gone this way.

“It’s very important for them to hire someone who has worked with celebs, as [Meghan and Harry] are celebs.”

Given some of the headlines about Meghan, in particular, over the past few months, crisis management is an invaluable skill.

Ms Latham will now be the person to tackle the media storm surrounding the duchess’ relationship with her paternal family.

Meghan has long been estranged from her half siblings Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr. The pair have repeatedly criticised Meghan on social media and during press interviews.

Samantha also plans to release a tell-all book to coincide with the baby’s arrival.

Meghan also has a fraught relationship with her father. It’s believed that Meghan hasn’t spoken to Thomas Markle Sr. since her wedding last May.

Markle was caught staging paparazzi photos for money and subsequently pulled out of walking his daughter down the aisle, reportedly due to health problems.

Since then Mr Markle has given numerous interviews to the press and TV channels, including sharing excerpts of a five-page letter Meghan wrote him in August last year.

While the palace has remained silent throughout the debacle, could Ms Latham bring a different PR approach to protect Meghan and Harry from any more negative press, especially where the Markles are concerned?

As the duke and duchess prepare for a new chapter in their lives, with a move to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor and the birth of their first child, it makes sense to put a team in place before all of the changes.

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