Kate Middleton lays off aide after Cambridges split household from Meghan Markle and Harry | Royal | News

Sophie Agnew, 32, a history of art St Andrews graduate, has reportedly been made redundant from her role as Kate’s personal assistant at Kensington Palace. According to the Daily Mail, Ms Agnew had worked for the Duchess for seven years and has left those surrounding her shocked. She has joined the royal couple on various royal tours abroad, which include their 2014 trip to Australia and New Zealand.

One of her friends said: “Sophie worked so hard for Kate.

“She loved her job and made a lot of sacrifices.

“Sophie has only just got married and returned from the honeymoon.

“Everyone’s been really shocked because it was so unexpected. It seems like extreme cost-cutting.”

Ms Agnew has recently married the insurance company director Stuart Hill.

The Duchess’s private secretary, Rebecca Deacon, left the role in 2007.

However, Nastasha Archer, another personal assistant had been loyal to the Duchess for a decade.

Earlier this year she was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle and Harry set on ‘making history’ with Archie power move

Meghan Markle has faced intense media scrutiny after being accused of being the more difficult royal to work for, whereas Kate was thought to be the reasonable boss of the pair.

There were reports last year that Meghan’s personal secretary Samantha Cohen was going to leave earlier this year.

Her aide Melissa Touboti quit just six months after the Royal wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

Ms Agnew is thought to have been made redundant due to the breakup in the royal household between Prince William and Harry.

The homepage description now says: “Driven by a desire to make a difference together, the Royal Foundation is a primary philanthropic and charitable vehicle for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

“Our programmes support a broad and ambitious spectrum of activities, ideas, and resources together to understand issues, explore creative solutions and be a catalyst for long-term impact.”

Earlier this year, the Duchess was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, which is the highest rank.

Express.co.uk has contacted Kensington Palace.