Prince Harry and Meghan Markle once seemed inseparable in the days of their Netflix series and intimate interview with Oprah Winfrey.
But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear to be spending more time apart than ever as they opt to attend an increasing number of events on their own.
Harry appeared at ten solo engagements in the space of 15 days without his wife as he embarked on a ‘quasi-royal tour’ across three countries, including New York, London and Lesotho.
A representative for the Sussex’s did not comment when asked if the Duke has extended his tour, following reports he is lengthening his trip away by a few days.
Meanwhile, Meghan spent yesterday evening greeting young children and families in downtown Los Angeles as she attended the LA Children’s Hospital gala without Harry.
The Duchess caught all eyes as she re-wore a red Carolina Herrera gown to the children’s event. She previously wore the dress at a 2021 gala in New York City to celebrate the military – an event she attended with her husband.
Harry started out in New York to meet royals and celebrities in September before flying to Britain to attend the WellChild event in London, in support of children and young people with exceptional health needs.
The royal then began his tour of Lesotho and South Africa for his charity Sentebale, which helps children and adolescents struggling with HIV and AIDS.
The Duchess of Sussex caught all eyes last night as she re-wore a revealing red Carolina Herrera gown to the LA Children’s Hospital gala
Prince Harry attends a Sentebale reception and panel discussion at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg on October 3
Harry taking part in the 14th Concordia Annual Summit in support of The Diana Award in New York on September 23
Meghan with her friend Kelly McKee at last night’s event in downtown Los Angeles
Markle was seen greeting a young fan at the LA Children’s Hospital gala Saturday night
Sweet footage from last night shows the Duchess greeting a family at the children’s event before joking to a little boy about being up so late.
‘It’s past your bedtime for sure,’ Megan said as she addressed the child, who was being held by his mother.
She added: ‘How old are they? Oh so really close to our kids. Three and five.’
Meghan then prepared for a star-studded night featuring a performance by Demi Lovato and appearances by presenters Kaley Cuoco, Jamie Lee Curtis and Colin Hanks.
It comes after Harry and Meghan made a series of separate plans, including Harry’s solo trips to London and Lesotho in recent weeks.
The Duke has appeared at ten solo engagements in the last 15 days without his wife as he embarked on a ‘quasi-royal tour’ across three countries, including New York, London and Lesotho.
It has also been reported that Meghan bailed out on a charity event she was set to attend with Prince Harry because she was ‘sick.’
And when Prince Harry was goofing around with chat show host Jimmy Fallon in New York, film star George Clooney – a guest at his wedding in 2018 – was hosting a humanitarian awards ceremony in the Big Apple – and Harry was noticeably absent.
Meghan and Kelly held hands as they posed for photos at the children’s event last night
Meghan poses for photos with Paul Viviano, CHLA President, at the event last night
Meghan smiles with Mr Viviano, CHLA President, at the children’s gala on Saturday night
Meghan, 43, spent yesterday evening greeting young fans as she attended the event in downtown Los Angeles
‘It’s past your bedtime for sure,’ Megan says as she addresses the young child
Sweet footage shows Meghan Markle greeting a family at last night’s event before joking to a little boy about being up so late
The duchess went stag to the event at LA Live’s event deck in downtown Los Angeles as her husband, Prince Harry, spent the night of his 40th birthday hiking with some friends
Markle, 43, previously wore the stunning gown at a 2021 gala in New York City to celebrate the military on the eve of Veterans Day in the US and Armistice Day in Britain
The couple have made a series of separate plans, including Harry’s solo trips to London and Lesotho in recent weeks
Meghan has reportedly grown frustrated with Harry’s court cases in the UK over his security entitlement
The last time Meghan was seen was the day before Harry’s birthday and she was barely staying at their home in Montecito for periods of time earlier this year whilst he was said to be ‘moping around’ by himself at a local café.
Last year, it was claimed that the pair spent extended spells apart but this was denied by sources close to them. It was said that, like any couple, they have disagreements but remained strong.
But Meghan has reportedly grown frustrated with Harry’s court cases in the UK over his security entitlement.
It has also been reported that the couple have been in disagreement over how to raise their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
Harry did not want the children to be seen in public in case they were photographed but Meghan would apparently prefer to allow them to attend more local events, a source told The Sun.
Prince Harry has gone solo from New York to London to Lesotho, undertaking various speaking engagements at awards ceremonies and charitable panels and summits
Meghan and Harry in Colombia in August as they visited the country as representatives of their Archewell Foundation
Some now believe the new ‘solo Harry’ is the duke’s own idea, as he tries to rebuild his image.
‘I hear he wanted it this way,’ a well-placed Californian source told DailyMail. ‘I believe he wants space.’
Others said the duke and duchess are pursuing different goals.
‘The duke and duchess have now hit their stride as individuals – not just as a couple,’ an insider told People.
‘The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her enterprise track.
‘But there will be joint efforts around those cause-driven areas of work.’
Some say the duke and duchess are focusing on their own ambitions
Others now believe the new ‘solo Harry’ is the duke’s own idea, as he tries to rebuild his image
Another insider in London offered a slightly different explanation, saying: ‘This definitely feels like he is upping his game to cement his position as a serious player on the international stage.
‘He’s always been desperate to be taken seriously and people I know say his fall from grace will really have got to him.’
Still, the source added: ‘It is a surprise that he went to Lesotho without Meghan. There may be a good reason she can’t leave the kids, but she’s never been to Lesotho and that surprises me – it is like a second home [to Harry].
‘He first went there as a teenager and the royal family there is like his second family.’
They’re so close that Harry and Prince Seeiso, the younger brother of Lesotho’s king with whom he founded the charity Sentebale, call each other ‘brother’.
‘Sentebale is such a big part of his life you’d think he would want to share it,’ the source said.
