The reason behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s newly installed chief of staff’s shock departure after just three months on the job has been revealed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hired Josh Kettler, a seasoned public relations professional, shortly before their three-day trip to Nigeria in May.
However, on Monday it was revealed that Kettler was no longer on the Sussex payroll.
Kettler left his post after he was hired “on a trial basis,” with his abrupt departure being “mutual” after both parties agreed he was not suitable for the role, The Post has learned.
The Santa Barbara resident was employed to “guide Prince Harry through his next phase” and accompanied the father of two, 39, on his blink-and-you-miss it trip to London in May.
There, the Duke commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Harry founded the games as a sports competition for both active and retired military service members from around the world who are wounded, injured or sick.
“Hired on a trial basis, the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it wasn’t the right fit,” a source told People.
The Post has reached out to reps for the Sussexes for comment.
Kettler’s departure fell on the eve he was due to accompany the Sussexes on their trip to Colombia this week.
The country’s Vice President Francia Márquez announced on Aug. 1 that the Sussexes will be visiting Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali.
There, Kettler was due to accompany Harry and the “Suits” alum, 43, to meetings with youth leaders off the back of the duo’s anti-online bullying campaign.
A former staffer has since claimed that the exec — who describes himself as an “experienced executive accelerator, organizer, and confidant” on his LinkedIn profile — was glad to get out of the work commitment.
“What may be most telling is that the entire time I worked there, I don’t think I heard a single current or former employee on their staff say they would take the job again if given the chance,” a source told the Daily Mail.
“These aren’t employees they had just found off the streets.”
“Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments,” they added.
Most notably, Kettler accompanied Harry and Meghan during their three-day tour of Nigeria.
The trip served as a nod to his senior position as Kettler was with the prince as he met with government officials during the visit.