Meet Amy Pickerill who is Meghan Markle’s right-hand woman

SHE’S the woman who you might catch lurking in the shadows when the royals come to town. But she’s vital to a smooth royal visit.

WHEN it comes to photos of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, all eyes go straight to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

But lurking in the background, you may spot a recurring face. A well-dressed blond, holding gift bags or bunches of flowers, and waiting on Meghan’s every request.

Her name is Amy Pickerill, and she has the job of being the official assistant private secretary to the Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with her assistant Amy Pickerill. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

With the Duchess’s increasingly busy schedule (the Australian tour being one of many) Ms Pickerill was given the official title on February 19.

As a former Kensington Palace press officer, and having helped manage Prince William, Catherine Middleton and Prince Harry previously, the role fitted in well with her professional history.

Meghan Markle with her assistant Amy Pickerill.

The 32-year-old made her first public appearance with the royals during their visit to Cardiff Castle, Wales, where she assisted Meghan with collecting gifts and flowers from royal fans.

Ms Pickerill graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2007 and began her career working at HM Treasury in 2009.

She then worked as media relations manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland before becoming the head of campaigns in its press office.

While it’s not confirmed how Ms Pickerill got in to the royal position, reports suggest Prince Harry picked her out himself as the right woman for the job.

Amy Pickerill, far right, needs to advise Meghan on what to do and what not to do. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

From collecting flowers to organising Meghan’s diary, Ms Pickerill attends most royal engagements and will even step in to manage her personal diary from time to time. But aside from looking after the Duchess, Ms Pickerill’s role will also be to put her media relations experience to good use, as well as knowing how to act within certain royal protocols.

“Amy will need to advise her on what to do and what not to do,” Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, told HuffPost.

“Having been an actor and an independent free spirit on the other side of the pond, coming here Meghan needs to learn what she can do and what she can’t do.

Harry and Meghan meeting fans at the Opera House yesterday. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

“What she can’t do is make political statements or comments and get involved in controversies.”

Alex Bomberg, who worked at Kensington Palace in the 1990s, said her role with Meghan will be “quite hectic” at times.

“Busy royals can be in France for breakfast and Scotland for dinner,” Mr Bomberg told the Huffington Post.

“They do three or four engagements every day, so managing that will be quite hectic.

Mr Bomberg said the relationship between the two will become very personal.

Amy Pickerill and her husband Ed Lane Fox attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

“Amy is going to become very close to Meghan,” he said.

“It’s a very private, very personal role. You are with the royal family when they have their royal face on, but also when they have their personal face on.

“When they want to kick off their shoes in the back of the limo, when they have moments of ‘That was difficult, that was emotional,’ if they’ve been to the likes of a children’s hospital.

“They’re there in those moments.”

Amy Pickerill, second from left, reaches out to take a green parcel from Prince Harry. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Mr Arbiter, who was also media manager for Prince Charles and Princess Diana during his 12 years at Buckingham Palace, said there also must be chemistry between the pair for the working relationship to run smoothly.

“When it comes to a royal private secretary, there’s got to be trust, there’s got to be respect and there’s got to be the understanding that the person who is with you is going to offer you the best advice there is,” he said.

“The chemistry has to be right. Obviously, Meghan Markle feels the chemistry is right.”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with her assistant Amy Pickerill during an official visit to Sussex earlier this month. Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage.