Meghan Markle is reportedly seeking to distance herself from the turmoil surrounding her husband, Prince Harry, as she focuses on building her lifestyle brand, according to royal insiders. The Duchess of Sussex is said to be eager to avoid the ongoing family drama that has plagued the couple since they stepped back from royal duties.
Royal Rift Deepens
Prince Harry's attempts to reconcile with his father, King Charles, ahead of next year's Invictus Games appear to have stalled, with reports that he has not been invited to his cousin Peter Phillips' wedding. The ceremony, set for 6 June in the Cotswolds, will see senior royals including the King, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales in attendance. However, Palace sources confirm that the Duke of Sussex has been excluded due to the continuing repercussions of his decision to step back from royal life.
Royal author Duncan Larcombe suggests that even if Harry had received an invitation, he would likely have declined due to his strained relationship with his brother, Prince William, who is expected to attend. "The sticking point is William's attendance," Larcombe explains. "Harry's not going to agree to go to an event where he's going to be forced to come face to face with his brother, who is absolutely still livid with him."
Meghan's Focus on Business
While Harry remains entangled in family feuds, Meghan is concentrating on her entrepreneurial ventures, including her lifestyle brand, As Ever. Sources indicate that she is increasingly keen to separate herself from the "chaos" surrounding her husband. Larcombe notes that Meghan's ambitions clash with the ongoing drama, stating, "Meghan is very determined, very ambitious, very focused and very driven in her pursuit of building her brand and businesses. So I'm not surprised that she is maybe trying to carve her own path."
The couple's recent quasi-royal tour of Australia drew criticism for its high-profile nature, with Harry making emotional speeches about his past and his desire to be a better father. However, these comments have only fueled further speculation about the royal rift. Larcombe observes, "Whenever Harry does any speech at an event, like he did in Australia, it turns into a sort of soap opera, with everyone talking about his family feuds and his relationship with his father and brother."
As Meghan builds her brand, the contrast between her calculated public image and Harry's ongoing struggles becomes more pronounced. Larcombe adds, "Meghan's keeping very busy building her brand, while Harry's busy coping with his worst nightmare – living life as a pseudo-celebrity royal, which brings with it all the things he hated growing up."
For now, the Duke and Duchess appear to be on divergent paths, with Meghan seeking to protect her business interests from the fallout of Harry's family drama.
