Former Soap Opera Actress Now Advises Prince Harry and Meghan

Beth Herlihy, a former Kensington Palace aide and actress, was seen accompanying Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their recent visit to Nottingham. Herlihy, who previously played a stripper on the Channel 4 soap opera "Hollyoaks Later," now co-owns a public relations firm that provides strategic advisory services to the Sussexes.

Herlihy, who previously worked for the Royal Family, was observed discreetly following behind the couple as they interacted with a crowd of approximately 100 supporters, carrying flowers and balloons. Footage also captured her assisting with organizing schoolchildren before the couple's arrival. The firm she co-founded, Herlihy Loughran, reportedly charges $155,000 annually for its services, according to tax returns from Archewell Philanthropies.

Before her career in public relations and royal service, Herlihy, under the stage name Bethan Coundley, appeared in two episodes of "Hollyoaks Later" in 2011. Her character, Honey, was involved in a storyline that included drugging a man and staging a fake death. She also participated in photoshoots during this period.

Herlihy transitioned into PR and began working with the Royal Family in 2016, taking on an events manager role at The Royal Foundation. After the Sussexes separated from the foundation in 2018, she remained with them but was reportedly laid off by Kensington Palace following their decision to step back as senior royals and relocate to the United States. She established Herlihy Loughran in 2020.

In September 2023, Herlihy was seen with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany. Her presence in Nottingham alongside the Duke and Duchess marks a continuation of her professional relationship with the couple, who are now navigating their roles as private citizens while undertaking charitable work.

The visit to Nottingham involved supporting various charities, including a community food project linked to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and a recording studio. The Duke and Duchess are currently awaiting a decision on taxpayer-funded security, a matter that has become a point of contention following recent reviews of security measures for public figures.