These days, Prince Harry is everywhere. But this whirlwind of speeches, television interviews, philanthropic endeavors, and overseas tours is being undertaken solo. While the Duke of Sussex is thrust into the spotlight, dominating the headlines, his wife is conspicuously absent. "Where is Meghan?" the British press unanimously asks regarding the Duchess's absence during her husband's trip to Lesotho in early October, as part of his crusade against AIDS.
This solo journey is all the more surprising given that, according to Prince Harry, he found his "soulmate" in East Africa during a safari the couple took together in 2016. Since moving to the United States, the Sussexes have always worked together, sharing an office and signing contracts with Netflix and Spotify jointly.
The couple, described by Harry as "salt and pepper," bought their Montecito, California, residence because of the presence of two intertwined palm trees, a symbol, in their eyes, of their commitment to working together.
One thing is clear: the Sussexes have decided to separate professionally. Harry will focus on the charitable causes close to his heart: mental health, children, people with disabilities, and the disadvantaged. Like his mother, Princess Diana, he intends to travel the world to champion his humanitarian ideals and promote the values of mutual support and solidarity that are so important to him.
Meghan will pursue her career as a businesswoman, determined to grow her wellness line, "American Riviera Orchard," which is set to launch next year. Furthermore, the former actress is working on a Netflix series about gardening and cooking. In addition, she is reportedly in negotiations with Penguin to publish her memoirs about her time with the Windsors, a tell-all book that would earn her a fabulous advance in exchange for juicy revelations about the royal family's misdeeds.
How can we explain this division of roles, which contrasts sharply with the shared destiny they have so loudly proclaimed since their wedding at St. George's Chapel on May 19, 2018?
First of all, following provocations and failed artistic ventures, the Duke and Duchess's aura has faded in Hollywood. By trying "too hard" to capitalize on their royal lineage, they have fallen victim to the law of diminishing returns, according to which the benefits of media overexposure decrease due to rising costs and falling profits resulting from audience fatigue.
At a time when the King and Kate are battling cancer, the numerous attacks by rebels against the monarch, his eldest son, and his wife now appear misplaced and counterproductive. "Where has the global respect and enormous fortune they hoped to gain from their expatriation gone?" asks the conservative tabloid Daily Mail regarding Harry's latest setback: the predicted failure of his Netflix documentary on polo.
Furthermore, Meghan's image, and by extension Harry's, has suffered considerably from the resignation of 19 of their staff in the United States over the past three years. The dismissal highlighted the difficulty of working with someone labeled a "terror" for mistreating a staff who were at her beck and call. Accusations of harassment of subordinates by an irascible boss are nothing new. Buckingham Palace was forced to open an investigation into similar allegations against the Duchess between 2018 and 2021, the findings of which have not been made public.
Above all, Harry resented the way Meghan monopolized the social media spotlight at his expense. During their recent visits to Colombia and Nigeria, she completely overshadowed her husband. The author of The Deputy, which earned him £25 million (€30 million) in royalties, now has the financial resources necessary to carry out his duties after inheriting, at the age of 40, the final portion of his great-grandmother's estate.
Reconciliation Process
Finally, by regaining his freedom, the youngest son of Charles III hopes to begin the process of reconciliation with his family. Since the publication of his damning autobiography, His Highness is more of an outcast at court than ever. He is not only estranged from his family, but also from his childhood friends, his boarding school days, and his time in the army. While His Highness has denied reports of a desire to resume part-time royal duties, the prince is aware that by publicly distancing himself from his wife, who is disliked at the Palace, a return to the good graces of the British establishment appears possible.
The king has recovered from his illness, as evidenced by his tour, beginning October 18, of Australia and Samoa, during which he was allowed to discontinue his treatment. However, concerns about his health persist. According to the latest rumors circulating in London medical circles, His Majesty is suffering from non-invasive bladder cancer. However, two-thirds of the victims of this disease, when detected and treated in time, many of whom are the same age as the monarch (75 years old), will live at least five years.
However, given the uncertainty surrounding the severity of the illness, Harry would like to reconcile with William to present a united front should the President pass away. And he is aware that only Meghan's official withdrawal from public life would allow him to achieve such a feat.
