Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s close pal is set to keep his distance from the Duchess of Sussex’s second series of her Netflix show.
Markus Anderson was noticeably absent from the first series of the Netflix lifestyle show “With Love, Meghan”.
The Canadian Soho House executive, who played a pivotal role in the early days of Meghan’s romance with Prince Harry, was nowhere to be seen in the first series.
Sources told the Mail he won’t appear in the second series either, despite being described in the past as Meghan’s “loving, supportive, and endlessly fun friend.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s close pal set to keep distance from upcoming Netflix series
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His absence is particularly striking given that he was front and centre at the couple’s 2018 wedding and was once considered a key figure in Meghan’s inner circle.
Anderson was a key figure during the early stages of Meghan and Harry’s relationship, having been present during her July 2016 trip to London when she met the prince.
He arranged their blind date at London’s Soho House at 76 Dean Street, where he serves as an executive.
Two years later, Anderson organised Meghan’s low-key bachelorette weekend at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured with Jessica Mulroney, Doria Ragland and Markus Anderson in 2017
PA
In August 2016, Meghan publicly celebrated his birthday on Instagram, writing: “What would I do without you, my loving, supportive, and endlessly fun friend? I know what… I would be bored, and life would be infinitely less interesting. I love you SO much.”
A friend of Anderson’s has conceded that their bond “may” not be quite as tight as it once was, primarily due to his extremely busy professional life.
As an executive at Soho House, Anderson travels “almost constantly” according to sources close to him.
The private members club now boasts 42 outposts around the globe, requiring significant oversight.
Markus Anderson attending Meghan and Harry’s 2018 wedding
PA
This demanding schedule appears to have limited his availability for personal engagements, including participation in Meghan’s Netflix series.
The show was filmed at a rented home near the Montecito mansion where Meghan lives with Prince Harry and their children Archie and Lilibet.
Beyond his busy schedule, Anderson’s friend revealed another reason for his absence from Meghan’s show: “He just really is not comfortable in the spotlight… it’s not his thing.”
This stands in contrast to other prominent friends of Meghan who didn’t appear in the series, such as Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey, who are certainly accustomed to public attention.
Markus Anderson and Meghan Markle pictured in 2023
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Feminist trailblazer Gloria Steinem, another close associate of the Duchess, was also missing from the show.
Her absence seems less surprising given that Steinem “has built a career around fighting for equality and getting women out of the kitchen – not sprinkling edible flowers on biscuits.”
The last time Anderson and Meghan were spotted together was at a baby shower for a mutual friend in December.
Prior to that, they hadn’t been photographed together in years, suggesting a gradual distancing.
