Prince Harry has been making solo trips without his wife Meghan Markle, sparking rumours that he “wants space” and is “desperate to be taken seriously”, according to insiders. Since relocating to the United States, the Duke of Sussex has typically been seen at official functions with Meghan by his side.
However, in recent weeks, he has travelled alone to New York, the UK, and South Africa. At the end of September, Harry was spotted at a central London hotel attending the WellChild Awards ceremony, honouring some of the nation’s most courageous children and supporting a charity he has patronised for 16 years.
He then journeyed to Lesotho and South Africa for his Sentebale charity, again without Meghan. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, dark blazer, and slim jeans, Harry was all smiles as he posed with the Princess of Lesotho, Senate Seeiso, for a photo she shared on her Instagram page.
The 22 year old captioned the post: “Had a pleasure of hosting a lunch today”. During his visit, Harry reportedly met with global business leaders and philanthropists to promote prosperity in Southern African communities, particularly among the youth.
However, Meghan’s absence has sparked much speculation, with a source in California telling the Daily Mail that this is the new “solo Harry” who “wants space”, reports the Mirror.
A London-based insider has told the media that Prince Harry’s recent actions are due to his desire to be taken more seriously. They said: “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.”
The source also expressed surprise at Meghan Markle’s absence during Harry’s trip to Lesotho, stating: “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.”
It was also noted that Harry’s solo trips could be attributed to strained relations with other members of the Royal family.
Despite being in close proximity to Buckingham Palace and his brother William’s residence during his UK visit, he did not appear to meet with either King Charles or William.
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