Meghan Markle's Sussex Squad undergoes a dramatic shift as old allies drift away

Meghan Markle's inner circle of high-profile supporters, often dubbed the Sussex Squad, has shifted noticeably in recent years. What began as a tight-knit roster of American and British fans aligning with the duchess’s public life has gradually reconfigured into a smaller, California-based circle. The changes reflect Meghan's move from royal life to a self-directed public figure, with longtime supporters recalibrating roles or stepping back as new priorities emerge around her post-royal projects.

One clear rupture involved Stassi Schroeder, the Vanderpump Rules star who had previously positioned herself as Meghan's top ally. Schroeder recently unfollowed Meghan on Instagram after reporting she did not receive a public-relations package from Meghan's lifestyle brand, a move highlighted by Daily Mail coverage of the evolving dynamic. The episode underscores how even vocal supporters can drift when access to brand partnerships becomes opaque or when the tone of a creator’s output shifts in ways that frustrate those who had championed it from the outset. The development fits into a broader pattern of changing alliances as Meghan's career in the United States continues to unfold and as her public-facing endeavors broaden beyond royal associations.

Jessica Mulroney, once Meghan's staunch defender and the first friend Meghan called from Kensington Palace when Harry proposed, has reportedly become estranged from the duchess. Mulroney's separation from Meghan followed Mulroney's involvement in a 2020 controversy over comments related to a white-privilege discussion with a blogger. That episode precipitated a cascade of consequences for Mulroney, including parting ways with U.S. networks and Canadian platforms tied to her television work. The Daily Mail notes that Mulroney’s star waned in the years that followed, contributing to the sense that Meghan’s circle has shifted away from some of its most publicized supporters.

Publishers have circulated rumors of a tell-all book about Meghan by Mulroney, with offers echoing the type of memoir interest that often surrounds high-profile friendships tested by public life. Mulroney has publicly denied plans for an autobiography, but observers note that the mere rumor of such a project underscores how the possibility of explosive disclosures can alter the texture of a once-tight bond. Whether these rumors reflect a genuine intention or simply reflect the intense scrutiny that follows Meghan and her circle remains a matter of public speculation, but the broader takeaway is that Mulroney’s relationship with Meghan has not recovered to its former prominence.

Other former allies who figured prominently in Meghan's pre-Harry era have likewise receded. Millie Mackintosh, a Made in Chelsea alum who befriended Meghan in London in 2016, described an abrupt exchange that effectively ended their friendship when Meghan began dating Harry. Mackintosh said she sent Meghan well-wishes but received a brief reply that suggested Meghan needed space, and the pair have not spoken since. The episode illustrates how personal relationships can be disrupted by the rapid-fire pace of Meghan's evolving life and the social circles that frame it.

Priyanka Chopra, once among Meghan's closest pre-marriage friends, has also drifted from the inner circle terminology that characterized Meghan's life in the years before her marriage to Prince Harry. Chopra was reportedly crushed when Meghan did not attend her wedding to Nick Jonas, and Chopra's absence from Meghan's New York baby shower in 2019 highlighted how calendar pressures and distance can erode even strong friendships in the public eye.

Violet von Westenholz — the daughter of a former Olympic skier and a figure long associated with royal connections — appeared in several early photographs with Meghan and was described in media coverage as part of Meghan's circle prior to her marriage. The two remained publicly connected for years, but by the mid- to late 2010s, references to Meghan and Violet together had cooled, and von Westenholz has not publicly referenced Meghan in years. The pattern of cooling ties with a trusted inner circle member underscores how the public-facing life Meghan built after stepping back from the monarchy can alter the cadence of private friendships.

Taken together, these shifts reflect a broader arc in Meghan's life since Megxit. The duchess has since anchored herself in California, building out social and professional networks through work and philanthropy, and cultivating a new circle that aligns with her post-royal ventures. The network that once included several U.S. reality TV figures, fashion and entertainment personalities, and friends from Meghan's pre-royal days has evolved into a more geographically concentrated and professionally oriented group. Those changes mirror the broader transformation in Meghan's public profile, from royal-anchored celebrity to a media-driven figure with a diverse set of collaborators and supporters.

Observers point out that the evolving Sussex Squad does not simply reflect personal disagreements; it also echoes the demands and consequences of life in the public eye. Public life has a way of testing loyalties, pressuring private dynamics, and shaping who remains part of an inner circle when the spotlight shifts. For Meghan, who has built a life in California around media projects, business ventures, and philanthropy, the recalibration of her closest allies is part of a longer story about how personal relationships survive, adapt, or drift under the relentless gaze of public scrutiny.

In recent years, Meghan's public narrative has expanded beyond her former royal frame to include collaborations with colleagues who share her artistic and charitable interests. Figures such as Abigail Spencer, Mindy Kaling, and other Montecito-based friends have become more visible in Meghan's life and on her social channels, signaling a shift toward a more intimate, California-based circle of support and collaboration. Those relationships align with Meghan's stated aim of building a life and a brand on her terms, rather than relying on the networks that defined her in the years before and immediately after her royal exit.

The story of the Sussex Squad's evolution is a reminder of the fragility of public life and the personal dimensions that underlie it. While the conversation around Meghan's circle has often leaned toward drama, it is also a reflection of how people in the public eye navigate evolving career paths, changing social expectations, and the practical realities of managing relationships when lives and livelihoods intersect with a global audience. Culture and entertainment coverage continues to track not just Meghan's projects, but the people around her as their stories unfold in the context of megawatt attention and shifting cultural moments.