WILLIAM AND CATHERINE ANNOUNCE KEY PERSONNEL CHANGES: NEW SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS APPOINTMENT AT KENSINGTON PALACE

The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a significant behind-the-scenes appointment to strengthen their communications team at Kensington Palace. Lisa Ravenscroft has joined the household’s press and public relations operation after leaving the global PR firm Edelman, where she led a UK team managing over £2 million in annual business and advised high-profile clients through complex risks and live crises.

The move, first reported by the Mail on Sunday in January 2026, signals a continued emphasis on professional media strategy as the Wales household navigates growing public scrutiny and an expanding programme of engagements. Ravenscroft’s background includes senior crisis and reputation management experience, though palace sources stress that her role is focused on day-to-day media relations, international press coordination, and long-term planning rather than any specific crisis response.

The timing has prompted speculation in royal circles, particularly given Edelman’s UK leadership under Julian Payne, a former senior communications aide to King Charles during his time as Prince of Wales. Sources close to the appointment have suggested Payne may have quietly supported Ravenscroft’s transition, though no official link has been confirmed. The Wales team has downplayed any direct connection to ongoing family matters, describing the hire as part of a broader effort to modernise and professionalise communications.

This appointment follows other recent changes within the Wales household:

In July 2025, Natasha Archer, Catherine’s long-serving personal assistant, stylist, and trusted aide for 15 years, departed to launch her own private consultancy. Archer played a pivotal role in supporting the princess’s public image and day-to-day operations.
Loyalty within the team was recognised in King Charles’s New Year Honours list (January 2026), when longtime nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo received the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver). The Norland College-trained nanny has cared for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis since George’s birth in 2013 and remains a constant presence in the children’s lives.

Taken together, these developments reflect a deliberate evolution in the Wales household. Prince William and the Princess of Wales are refining their support structure—bringing in experienced external professionals while honouring long-serving members—as their roles expand and the Prince of Wales prepares for future responsibilities. The changes underscore a focus on stability, professionalism, and forward planning at a pivotal moment for the monarchy.

Sources:

The Mail on Sunday (January 2026: Ravenscroft appointment, Edelman connection, Julian Payne speculation)
People Magazine (January 2026: role details, day-to-day media focus, no crisis-specific link)
HELLO! Magazine / The Mirror (2025–2026: Natasha Archer departure, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo honour)
Royal Central, Express (January 2026: overall team evolution context)