Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to continue their solo appearances, with both expected to attend separate events today, thousands of miles apart. Later today, Harry will be in New York City for the New York Times DealBook Conference, where he’ll join journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin.
He’s also scheduled to attend an exhibition opening in support of his Sentebale charity. Meanwhile, Meghan is anticipated to grace the 2024 Paley Honors Fall Gala in Beverly Hills, where their close friend Tyler Perry will receive The Paley Honors Award.
Despite both being part of the hosting committee, it appears only Meghan will attend due to Harry’s confirmed appearance in New York. The couple’s last public appearance together was over 100 days ago on August 18 during their four-day trip to Colombia.
Since then, they’ve only been seen together once in a video message sent to a United Nations conference in Colombia on ending violence against children, reports the Mirror.
Speaking about the vital need for online safety for children, Harry said in a video message: “We are at a crossroads” and continued by highlighting the growing need to act now, saying: “The urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident. While the necessity has always been apparent, it’s now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action.”
Last month saw Harry take to Vancouver on his own to continue advocating for the Invictus Games, which honours injured service members and veterans and is scheduled for February 2025 in the city. These solo ventures come during a spell when both he and Meghan have often appeared separately in public—despite Meghan herself famously comparing the pair to “salt and pepper” that always “move together”.
Earlier in the autumn, Harry was spotted travelling alone for a fortnight, where his destinations included New York, London and Southern Africa, around the same time as Meghan dazzled on the red carpet. This streak of independent engagements, particularly Harry’s recent Canada trip, has sparked speculation, especially since Meghan had accompanied him to Vancouver earlier in the same year, in February.
However, insiders suggest Meghan’s trip was a calculated move, as the couple plans to focus on individual projects in the long term. A source previously revealed: “Harry and Meghan have consistently pursued solo ventures in connection with their individual interests, but remain deeply committed to their joint efforts through Archewell. Together they have exciting projects in the pipeline, all driving forward their shared mission for positive global impact.”
Sources close to the couple have downplayed the separate appearances, explaining that one of them always stays behind to care for their children.
A friend told People: “What we are seeing is a functional and healthy relationship with two working partners, not the contrary.”
Another insider described the couple’s new strategy as a “twin-track approach”, with Harry concentrating on his charitable work and Meghan on her business ventures. Nevertheless, the couple presented a united front yesterday by releasing a new behind-the-scenes video showcasing their joint charitable efforts.
A video shared on the Archewell Foundation website, paired with Coldplay’s hit “Sky Full Of Stars,” highlights significant events of Archewell throughout 2024. It includes footage of Prince Harry and Meghan engaging in their charity work together over the year as well as their individual visits.
During an event captured in the video, Meghan remarked: “When you show up in a community, you find that group that makes you feel like home but oftentimes you also find yourself again.”
The release of the video coincides with the couple’s 2024 Impact Report, which also made Archewell’s tax return public, disclosing a $5.7 million income for the last year, significantly bolstered by a $5 million contribution from an undisclosed donor. Despite the sizable income, the Sussexes do not draw any salary from the charity, dedicating just one hour each week to their roles—described by PEOPLE as “standard practice for directors of US tax-exempt organisations”.
Further details from the report reveal that Archewell is a pioneering partner of Women’s Wellness (Spa)ce, a center offering trauma-informed wellness services for women, initiated by Ashley Biden, the daughter of US President Joe Biden, which received a substantial $250,000 grant from Archewell.
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