The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are navigating a period of significant personal and professional challenges, with a royal expert warning their 'deeply divided priorities' could present a 'huge test' for their future as a couple.
The Solo Activities Sparking Speculation
Fresh speculation about the state of their marriage was ignited in December 2025 when Prince Harry, 41, embarked on a boys' skiing trip to Aspen, Colorado. The snow-loving prince hit the slopes with friends, including polo player Nacho Figueras, and participated in a snow polo tournament.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle, 44, remained at the couple's home in Montecito, California, with their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four. Although she publicly supported Harry's sporting endeavour with a social media post, the solo trip fuelled another round of 'split fear' rumours that have dogged the pair for years.
Diverging Paths: UK Focus vs. US Business
According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, the separate activities highlight a deeper divergence in their current goals. 'Harry clearly wants to do more in the UK, and rebuild a relationship with his father, while Meghan is focused on her business,' he stated.
Fitzwilliams added that he couldn't see Harry fitting into Meghan's 'As Ever' lifestyle brand, and noted Meghan's apparent lack of affection for Britain. This creates a fundamental tension, especially with a potential UK visit on the horizon. The expert pointed to Meghan's low popularity in recent UK polls, where she scored just 25% in a YouGov rating, as a major complication for any return.
The Looming UK Security Decision and Its Impact
This potential visit is tied to a critical pending decision. The Home Office review into reinstating state-funded security for Harry and his family during UK trips is reportedly nearing completion, with many predicting it will fall in the Duke's favour.
Fitzwilliams suggests this could force a difficult choice. 'If Harry is keen to come to a country... that Meghan doesn't want to appear in, it's only going to exacerbate any difficulties between them,' he explained. He described a joint return as a potential 'complete catastrophe' given the anticipated public hostility towards the Duchess.
Despite the swirling rumours and external pressures, the commentator believes the couple remain 'emotionally committed to each other.' Harry himself has repeatedly brushed off divorce talk, telling an audience in 2024 that they had been reported as divorcing 'maybe 10, 12 times' and that he had learned to ignore it.
Fitzwilliams concluded that while their differing priorities present a substantial challenge, it would likely take 'an earthquake of an event' for the Sussexes to actually divorce, not least because of the immense loss of face it would entail after their very public journey.
