Prince Harry Was on an 8-Day Trip Without His Wife, Meghan Markle – Here’s Why

They also made an effort to blend in with the background of their tour. Mila, dressed like any other couple, wore jeans, a cardigan, a basic shirt, and sneakers, while Ashton wore all-denim, complete with a face mask and a baseball cap.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex departed the UK to start a new life in North America after a well-publicized split within the British royal family, appearing in public together.

But Prince Harry didn’t have his wife with him when he recently went to a number of high-profile engagements. Experts on royals have weighed in, providing unexpected explanations for the Duke of Sussex’s decision to attend these occasions alone.

Social media users have also voiced their opinions, with many arguing that Prince Harry ought to continue appearing in public more frequently without Meghan Markle.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Departure

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made news in January 2020 when they declared their intention to resign from their positions as senior members of the royal family.

Prince Harry and Markle released a statement expressing their intention to continue upholding their vow of loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II while striving for financial independence.

In order to give their son Archie a respect for his royal ancestry and the freedom to live a more private life, the couple disclosed that they intended to split their time between the UK and North America.

The royal family was allegedly taken aback by the choice. Buckingham Palace was “disappointed” and senior royals were “hurt” by the couple’s sudden departure because neither Queen Elizabeth II nor Prince William had been informed prior to the public announcement.

Following months of intense media coverage, during which the Duke and Duchess had candidly revealed their difficulties adjusting to the spotlight, the news was made. A significant change in the royal dynamic was indicated by their decision to withdraw, which they announced on their Instagram page.

The royal family’s discord continued to grow after they left. In his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry disclosed the depth of his discord with his brother, Prince William.

The book described contentious exchanges between Prince William and Princess Kate, including one that turned physical. This incident is said to have left a permanent wound on both of them. Prince Harry made it apparent that the deep-seated animosity between him and his brother had been festering for years, even though he insisted that his goal was never to hurt his family.

Prince Harry said, “There has been a lot of pain between the two of us, especially the last six years,” as he considered their relationship. Nothing I’ve ever written or included has ever been intended to cause harm to my family.”

“But it does give a full picture of the situation as we were growing up, and also squashes this idea that somehow my wife was the one that destroyed the relationship between these two brothers,” the Duke said.

Prince Harry said in his memoir that he and Markle fled the UK for their “sanity and physical safety,” but he wasn’t sure when they would return as the rift developed.

Since moving to North America, Markle is said to have only traveled back to the UK once, at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022. The fact that she conspicuously skipped King Charles III’s coronation in 2023 underscores the tense dynamics that exist between the Sussexes and the other members of the royal family.

The Reported Reasons Behind Prince Harry’s Solo Ventures

Without Markle by his side, Prince Harry attended a charity event in California towards the end of September 2024, which was hosted by actor Kevin Costner. The Duke also went to a World Health Organization (WHO) event, where he had dinner with a number of dignitaries, among them Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

His next destination was New York, where Prince Harry seemed to have backed causes that were dear to his heart, like The Diana Award, The HALO Trust, and African Parks.

He took a plane to London over the weekend in order to fulfill his lifelong devotion to WellChild by going to their yearly awards event – this time, without his American spouse.

Royal insiders said that Prince Harry’s solitary trips showed a determination to forge his own identity and purpose as he navigated life apart from the royal family.

As Prince Harry turned forty, royal observers observed that he seemed resolved to “assert himself” on his own, free from the baggage of his previous royal status and his wife’s unwavering presence.

Author of “Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan In Their Own Words,” biographer Phil Dampier, made the claim that Prince Harry was having difficulty finding purpose in his life following his departure from royal responsibilities.

“When Harry and Markle go out together at engagements in California, Harry frequently appears disgruntled and feels like a little player at times. I believe he’s come to the realization that he deserves better for himself. Now that he is forty years old, he should be considering his options,” Dampier remarked.

According to Dampier and other analysts, Prince Harry is attempting to carve out a new career for himself apart from his marriage and his history as a senior royal.

Apart from his public appearances, Prince Harry supposedly made contact with former acquaintances before traveling to the UK and spending a weekend away with just guys to celebrate turning forty. “I’m sure he’s lacking some mates he can go out with for a beer and truly relax,” Dampier stated.

“The more he does things on his own and carves out some new projects, the more likely it is he can heal himself and eventually some of the divisions with his family, but it’s going to be a long road,” the royal specialist stated.

While Prince Harry has supported charities like the Invictus Games, WellChild, and Sentebale, royal analyst Richard Fitzwilliams pointed out that these were endeavors he had undertaken prior to his marriage to Markle.

His recent solo shows in London and New York appeared to be an attempt to find new jobs and boost his own status. Tom Bower, a royal specialist, noted that Prince Harry’s tactics and way of life had changed significantly as a result of these recurring solitary occurrences.

Rumors regarding Prince Harry’s future plans abounded as he persisted in going to public occasions by himself. There were conjectures that Charles might be thinking about staying longer in the UK or possibly returning to royal duties.

Fitzwilliams did, however, affirm, “These are definitely overdone, but they draw attention to his increasingly awkward situation.” His family and himself are at odds greatly. His visits to New York might provide him a little lift.”

The news of Prince Harry’s solo trips quickly ignited discourse among social media users, many of whom debated the state of his relationship with Meghan Markle.

The first concrete indication that his marriage is failing is the fact that she would never have passed up the chance to hang out with Costner, etc. One user stated, “She would have crawled there, but lost because she exploited it as a power struggle. Part of what was said by someone else was, “And now, the end is near and Harry faces the final divorce.”

Someone else wrote, “He’s OK when he’s by himself. He appears to be more happy, for sure. Really, there’s no reason Meghan needs to go to every function. In the future, they ought to maintain project separation.”

A fourth social media user commented, saying, “I believe it’s best if Harry handles these occurrences alone. People actually seem delighted to see the old Harry, and he seems lot happier and more at ease without Meghan around.”

A lot of people have been talking about Prince Harry’s recent solo outings, and royal specialists have been able to shed light on his potential motivations.

Public opinion appears divided as speculation about his future grows, while most believe that his solo endeavors may herald a new chapter in his life.