KATE Middleton is set to lose her right-hand woman after just two years.
Catherine Quinn has worked as Kate’s private secretary since October 2017, and the pair are said to be parting on the “best of terms”.
She has been responsible for organising Kate’s diary and meetings, accompanying her on engagements and a host of other duties.
The Oxford-educated mum-of-one’s appointment was seen as sign of the Kate’s hopes to “beef up” her role as a future Princess of Wales.
Ms Quinn had been working a chief operating officer at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, and previously headed up the Wellcome Trust.
She also had positions on the boards of The Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Met Office, The Royal British Legion and The National Memorial Arboretum.
Her six-figure salary was paid by Prince Charles, through his private income from the Duchy of Cornwall.
A source told the Daily Mail: “Catherine is a thoroughly lovely lady and has achieved a lot working for the duchess. But she simply wants to take a step back and focus again on her charity work.
“She has done an incredible job but just wants some more time for other interests and feels she has helped the duchess create a solid platform in order to move forward.
“They are parting on the best of terms.”
Her decision to go after just two years is unusual as the job is considered one of the best and private secretaries can often stay for a decade or more.
Miss Quinn’s predecessor, Rebecca Deacon, left her post in 2017 after 10 years of service to the royal family.
The Duchess is due to make some major announcements on her work with young children early next year.
She and William are redefining their working lives and charitable operations following their split from the Harry and Meghan, who have moved out of Kensington Palace to join the team under the Queen at Buckingham Palace and set up their own foundation.
