Are Prince Harry and Meghan truly happily, or are they just pretending?
From Harry allegedly staying in hotels alone to Meghan skipping the coronation, there are
some signs that this formerly royal couple might be in trouble.
Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" shattered records upon its release.
As millions rushed to get a copy, the book totaled 1.43 million sales in the first 24
hours of its release in the UK, U.S., and Canada.
"Spare" went on to become the fastest-selling nonfiction book in history.
That is nothing short of impressive — but apparently, Meghan Markle wasn't so sure the
book was a good idea.
A source told The Telegraph that Meghan had some doubts about the book and whether it
was a good idea that Harry shared so much of his personal life.
Yet, she still supported him.
"I don't think that we can ever have peace in my family unless the truth is out there."
However, her support was questioned when she wasn't at Harry's side while he was promoting
the book.
This raised some eyebrows, with GB News host Dan Wootton saying,
"It was the first sign of Meghan trying to distance herself from all of the collateral
PR damage caused by 'Spare.'"
Royal biographer Christopher Andersen told Fox News that he suspected much of the same.
Anderson speculated:
"Meghan clearly doesn't want to make it look as if she's somehow manipulating Harry, or
that she's had a hand in shaping his memoirs."
Many saw Meghan's absence as a sign that she was distancing herself from Harry and his
ventures, especially because they are usually involved in each other's projects.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2022 Christmas card featured a photograph of them taken at
an event that year.
While this wasn't exactly out of the ordinary, the Daily Mail pointed out that the couple
released a Christmas card featuring their children the previous year.
It's actually pretty customary for members of the royal family to use a family photo
on their Christmas cards.
Prince William and Princess Catherine, for example, blessed fans with a stunning family
photo once again.
Now, it might be possible that we're all placing way too much weight on a simple Christmas
card photo.
However, the choice of photograph did take away from that family feeling we tend to expect
from holiday cards — especially those coming from the royal family.
The fact that the couple chose a photo that anyone could already find on Google didn't
do much to ease worried minds.
To make matters worse, Harry and Meghan also failed to mention their five-year wedding
anniversary publicly in 2023.
Obviously, this led many to think that all might not be well.
Speaking to the Daily Star, relationship coach Tara Blair Ball said she suspects the couple
is exhausted from all the drama that occurred in the past couple of years, but she's optimistic
that their marriage is stronger than ever.
So maybe they have nothing to worry about after all?
There was an immense amount of speculation about whether or not Prince Harry and Meghan
Markle would attend the coronation of Harry's dad, King Charles III.
Many hoped it would serve as a way for them to finally reunite with the family, but while
Harry accepted the invitation, Meghan politely declined.
Given Harry's strained relationship with his family, Meghan's presence might've provided
some comfort and support.
However, she stayed behind in California with their children.
As it turned out, Charles' coronation was on the same day as Prince Archie's fourth
birthday.
So the narrative was that Meghan stayed behind to celebrate with the little royal.
Harry did, however, leave for America almost immediately after the coronation ceremony
was over so he could spend the last few hours of Archie's birthday with him.
Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People that Archie's birthday coinciding with the
coronation was "an elegant solution," which gave them a good reason for "Meghan not to
come."
She added that it was only natural the duchess wanted to avoid the British press.
After Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, Meghan received even more negative coverage.
According to Bedell, the duchess likely wanted to avoid a repeat of that.
She might very well be right.
Either that, or Meghan and Harry were thankful to part ways for a few hours.
We'll never know for sure.
In a surprise move, Meghan has signed with talent agency William Morris Endeavor, or
WME, to get her career back on track.
"Hey, it's me.
I'm just excited to be myself and talk and be unfiltered and… yeah, it's fun."
The public has become used to Harry and Meghan tackling projects together, and this is the
first time Meghan has gone completely solo.
Entertainment expert Mark Boardman told Newsweek that this decision indicates Meghan is ready
to re-enter the entertainment industry.
Boardman went on to add:
"[WME has] connections and expertise in the entertainment industry that could help her
secure high-profile projects."
Meanwhile, royal commentator Tom Bower is of the opinion that Meghan has grown weary
of her relationship with Harry.
Bower told Marca:
"There are many now in London who say Meghan is getting tired of Harry."
Bower added that, after all is said and done, Meghan would need a new career since she'd
no longer be associated with the royals.
Of course, this is merely speculation, but in light of what Bower said, Meghan's new
deal with WME is raising some eyebrows.
Then there's also the fact that Harry has been fighting for the couple's right to privacy,
and yet Meghan appears ready to fully step back into the public eye.
Right now, it appears their interests don't entirely align.
When a married couple can no longer stand to be in the same house together, you know
there's trouble.
That said, rumors have been swirling that Prince Harry sometimes goes off to a hotel
on his own to take a breather from his home life.
Sources told The Sun that Harry has a room reserved at a hotel near his and Meghan's
California home, where he sometimes goes for some alone time.
Not only that, but apparently he also frequents the San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles,
a swanky and very exclusive private members club.
Sources told The Sun that the club serves as "an escape place" for the prince.
Whether from his wife or the public, it is unclear.
It is the perfect place to hide out, though.
Members aren't allowed to approach each other and cameras are banned.
Amid rumors that all is not well with the couple's marriage, news about Harry allegedly
frequenting hotels and private clubs without Meghan was not a good look for the couple.
As a result, Harry's rep told Page Six that the rumors are utter nonsense.
The rep simply stated to the outlet:
"This is not true."
Avid royal watchers will know that Meghan Markle first stepped out without her engagement
ring while she was pregnant with Prince Archie.
One can argue that she left her ring at home for fear that she wouldn't be able to get
it off again.
It's common for fingers to swell during pregnancy, so this one can be explained away.
But recently, the duchess was seen stepping out without her engagement ring once again.
While she and Prince Harry were attending the Women of Vision Awards in New York, fans
noticed that Meghan's ring finger was noticeably bare.
She was also spotted without the ring in Los Angeles previously, and no one knows why she's
not wearing it.
It sure is odd, considering that she previously went to a lot of trouble to have it altered
so the band was thinner, which made the diamonds look even bigger.
She also gushed about how much she loved the ring, saying in an interview:
"It's incredible."
It is indeed a special piece of jewelry.
Harry selected a diamond from Botswana and two smaller diamonds from his mother's collection
for the ring.
He also had some input in the design, which was handled by jewelers Cleave and Company.
So the ring clearly holds a great deal of sentimental value to Harry, which makes it
all the more strange that Meghan isn't wearing it these days.
Missing engagement rings aside, there are some sources who claim that Prince Harry is
only staying married to Meghan Markle because of his children.
These claims come from Princess Diana's former royal butler Paul Burrel.
Burrell wrote a book in 2003 called "A Royal Duty" that revealed intimate details about
the late princess after her death.
Harry and Prince William were upset about the book, calling it a "cold and overt betrayal,"
according to Sky News.
Well, Burrell still appears to enjoy having his voice heard, because he's been telling
everyone who would listen that the couple's marriage is on the rocks and that a divorce
is imminent.
GB News gave him and another former royal insider, Lady Colin Campbell, some time on
the air to make their speculations public.
Campbell alleged that Harry had already been in contact with divorce lawyers.
This information, she claims, comes from five separate sources.
Sky News contributor Daisy Cousins is a little skeptical, however.
Cousins mentioned that she wouldn't dismiss the possibility that Harry and Meghan started
the breakup rumors in order to get some good old publicity.
She told Sky News:
"It actually wouldn't surprise me if these were very calculated leaks from the Sussex
camp suggesting that there's a split on the cards.
Because either way if there is or there isn't we're all going to look."
Rumors about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's possible breakup have opened a can of worms,
and suddenly there are inside sources and royal experts aplenty who claim that they
saw this coming all along.
Speaking to GB News, royal biographer Angela Levin claimed that Meghan had mapped out an
escape plan long before she and Harry tied the knot.
Levin told the outlet:
"I think she's a careful plotter."
She then added that Meghan hasn't been around when Harry needs her most, especially when
it comes to dealing with his mental health.
Levin also claimed that Meghan is planning on taking full custody of their children once
their marriage disintegrates.
She told GB News:
"In my opinion, here is what she is doing, she was making sure that he's in a hopeless
situation so that she can get the children and he's completely isolated from his family
and friends.
[...] So she is absolutely separating from him."
"The distance between them seems to get longer and wider."
Levin also believes that, should things end, Harry will be worse off.
She speculated that he will be seen as a failure while Meghan continues to climb the ladder
to Hollywood success.
Meghan Markle's half-sister, Samantha Markle, made her voice heard once again after the
public perceived some potential tension between the couple while they were attending an NBA
game.
When the kiss cam focused on the two of them, Harry could be seen going in for a kiss, but
it looked to all the world like Meghan was dodging him.
This was indeed a pretty interesting turn of events, but Samantha took it even further.
She told GB News that it was very unlike Meghan to reject Harry's affection, adding,
"Previously, in all the photographs she was pining over him, putting her hands all over
him, grabbing his hands, grabbing his back...
Is this a symbol of separation?
This is seemingly a statement on her part that she's not all that touchy-feely right
now."
It might be safe to say that Samantha doesn't know much more than the rest of us, given
that she last had contact with Meghan was in 2014.
Still, she claims that she sees signs of Harry and Meghan feuding with each other.
She also suggested that they seek marriage counseling.
"They are at an impasse.
They're making decisions to part.
They have to work that out."
Samantha also previously told 7 News that she believes Harry and Meghan are locked in
an unhealthy relationship.
She alleged to the outlet:
"They're really unhealthy for each other, it's a toxic relationship."
Whether the couple is really at odds with one another remains to be seen.