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.
