Lately, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seem deliberate in their efforts to establish their individual identities. Notably, in 2023, they've been noticeably absent from significant public appearances as a couple, with their last joint outing dating back to May. During that incident, they were involved in a dramatic car chase with paparazzi.
Their next shared appearance is slated for the 2023 Invictus Games, set to take place in Germany later this month. However, their arrival in Europe won't be a joint venture. Prince Harry is set to return to the UK on September 7 for a charity award ceremony, an event the Duchess of Sussex won't be attending. Instead, she plans to rendezvous with him in Dusseldorf a few days later.
Throughout the year, Meghan has turned down various opportunities to accompany her husband on visits to his home country, and this seems indicative of her broader decision to distance herself from the UK. Her absence at King Charles's Coronation in May, despite receiving an invitation, illustrated this shift. Instead of supporting Prince Harry in London as he testified against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in a civil case, she opted to stay in the US.
While the couple's limited series received mixed critical reviews, it met Netflix's viewership expectations, which had been a primary goal when they signed their multi-million-pound deal.
An evident takeaway from the success of the Harry & Meghan documentary is the enduring public interest in the couple's joint endeavors. This stands in contrast to the underperformance of Meghan Markle's Archetypes podcast on Spotify, where Prince Harry played a minor role. The podcast failed to meet Spotify's expectations, leading to the streaming giant canceling their deal earlier this year.
Reports suggest that the Sussexes are actively engaged in several other Netflix projects, including a documentary centered around Prince Harry's visits to Africa.
As they navigate their future, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appear to be at a crossroads, where they must decide between maintaining a successful collaborative approach or persisting with their brand separation efforts.
