S Poddar
Prince Harry has finally opened up regarding the persistent rumors surrounding his relationship with Meghan Markle, addressing separation speculations. The Duke of Sussex, who married Meghan in 2018, attended the 2024 New York Times DealBook Summit single-handedly, an unusual gesture. While there, he made a joke sarcastic regarding reports over the past years about his married life. “We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times,” as he joked with an amused disbelief. He explained that “Apparently we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times as well. So it’s just like, what?”
While the public is fixated on his private life, Prince Harry declared that there were no problems with the relationship and that the couple had not moved as many reports suggested. His words were to end the gossip once and for all and highlight how absurd it is to always speculate about a person’s life. This was not the first time Harry has had to address rumors, and his comment, though light-hearted, also served to dismiss the false narratives that continue to circulate about his life with Meghan.
Meanwhile, the couple’s life in California remains a subject of intense interest. Since relocating to Montecito in 2020, they have become major figures in both the media and philanthropic circles. However, Prince Harry’s relationship with the British royal family has been far from smooth, and tensions have reached new heights since he stepped back from royal duties. He has openly criticized the family on various platforms, including his memoir Spare and the docuseries Harry & Meghan. Harry’s relationship with his brother, Prince William, has been strained, with public feuds and differing perspectives on royal life creating a rift that seems to be difficult to bridge.
While rumors and controversy continue to swirl around Harry and Meghan, the couple has maintained their commitment to each other and their family. Prince Harry, speaking at the DealBook Summit, said that he is happy to be living in the United States and to be raising his children, Archie and Lilibet, in a more private environment. He said he was happy with the lifestyle they had established and the experiences they were giving their kids, stating that there were things they could never do if they had remained in the UK. His priority, he said, is being a good husband and father.
The couple continues to be engaged with their charitable foundation, Archewell, though a recent report has indicated that each member contributes only a small hour of time a week to the organization. This is common for leaders of U.S. tax-exempt organizations, but the controversy has created questions regarding the couple’s participation. Yet, they still participate in high-profile charitable activities and events, such as support for veterans, through the Invictus Games, which Harry established.
Meghan, on the other hand, has had her single public appearances become routine in news outlets. She recently attended the red carpet event where she shocked everyone in a black Oscar de la Renta gown combined with a diamond necklace over £26,000 worth. While the Duchess had built up her own separate public profile, independent of any ties to the royal household, Prince Harry’s events like the DealBook Summit continue to solidify his footing in philanthropic and business circles.
While the couple has always been under some scrutiny, mostly regarding their media presence and philanthropic activities, Harry’s recent statements on their marriage are made in refusal to add words to the negative publicity surrounding his marriage. His response to all the growing rumors speaks to his frustration but also a kind of resilience in the face of public pressure. Whether or not the royal family will ever fully reconcile with Harry remains uncertain, but for now, he seems content with the life he has built with Meghan and their children in California.
This saga of royal life and personal reinvention continues to capture the imagination of the public. Prince Harry and Meghan will have to find out how to balance their desires with the public’s insatiable curiosity about every move they make. Meanwhile, they are focusing on their family, their foundation, and their efforts to carve out a life that is really their own.
