Buckingham Palace has appointed Rhiannon Mills as communications
secretary to King Charles III and Queen Camilla, in a move that
brings one of Britain’s most experienced royal broadcasters into
the heart of the monarchy’s media operation.
Ms Mills, 46, will leave her role at Sky News to take up the
position at Buckingham Palace before the summer. She has covered
the Royal Family for more than a decade, reporting extensively on
engagements at home and overseas and building close professional
familiarity with senior members of the House of Windsor.
Her appointment comes at a delicate moment for the institution,
as it continues to navigate reputational challenges and heightened
public scrutiny. Recent controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and
his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, alongside protests by
the campaign group Republic, has underscored the importance of
clear and effective communication from the palace.
A seasoned correspondent, Ms Mills has reported from across the
globe, accompanying royal tours to Asia, Africa, the Middle East
and Australasia. Her coverage has included high-profile moments
such as the birth of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s first child
at St Mary’s Hospital in 2015, as well as interviews with senior
royals including Prince Harry and Prince William.
Known for her measured but occasionally candid analysis, she
previously suggested that a policy of silence by the Royal Family
risked failing to contain controversy in the wake of the Duke and
Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
In her new role, Ms Mills will be responsible for shaping the
public messaging of the King and Queen, overseeing announcements
and supporting the planning of official engagements and overseas
visits. Palace sources described her as bringing “a wealth of
broadcasting and digital storytelling experience” combined with
“deep knowledge of royal matters”.
She succeeds Laura Sullivan, who has departed for a role in the
private sector, and will report to Tobyn Andreae as part of the
senior communications team.
