Are Meg and Harry leading separate lives? Pals fear they’re ‘drifting apart’ as aide QUITS & they set up separate teams
THE megawatt smile we have not seen for so long is back.
Prince Harry beams from ear to ear in photos taken on his latest trip to his beloved Africa.
The Duchess of Sussex has previously accompanied him to the continent, including in May this year.
But this, the most recent in a series of solo trips for Harry, has sparked fears the couple, who have been married for six years, are drifting apart.
It has even prompted a source close to Harry and Meghan to address the speculation.
The Sussexes’ confidante insisted: “It is normal for couples to not do everything together.”
Not so long ago, this power couple strode the world united — seemingly inseparable in their work promoting the good causes backed by their charity, Archewell.
But now Harry and Meghan are losing yet another key member of staff.
Archewell’s communications chief, Ashley Hansen, has announced she is setting up her own firm.
She will continue to be an “advisor” to the couple and manage the PR for Meghan’s new California business venture, believed to be named American Riviera Orchard, which has so far dished out 50 jars of jam.
Harry and Meghan’s enterprises will now be running side-by-side rather than jointly, although they are expected to be seen together at charitable engagements and embarking on foreign visits.
‘He was on good form’
While it is understood that the Duke and Duchess’s work lives will be separated, insiders told The Sun that they are also spending more and more of their down time apart.
Harry has barely been at home in Montecito for the past three weeks. He has been seen without Meghan in New York, London and Lesotho.
In the UK capital this week, he did not see his father the King, nor did he have any contact with his brother, Prince William.
On Monday, he honoured seriously ill youngsters at the WellChild Awards in London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel. The Duke has been a patron of the charity for 16 years.
He was on good form, full of energy and seemed quite happy to be on his own.
Attendee WellChild Awards in London
He beamed with joy as he hugged youngsters and told them in a speech that they were “little legends”.
One of those attending said: “He looked like the old Harry we knew and loved.
“He always came alive at events like this, but lately he has seemed quite glum.
“He was on good form, full of energy and seemed quite happy to be on his own.”
It has also emerged that Harry even spent the night of his birthday last month on a hiking holiday without his wife, although sources close to the couple insist it was Meghan who organised the lads’ trip.
Meanwhile, it was reported that she pulled out of a charity event run by actor Kevin Costner in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband because she was “sick”.
In fact, Meghan has not been seen since September 14 — the day before Harry turned 40. Sources claim that, for periods earlier this year, she was rarely staying at their Montecito pad.
Harry was said to be “moping around” on his own at a local cafe.
And a New York Times interview with Meghan initially said she was living 100 miles away in Santa Monica.
But that was later put down to being an error and corrected.
Previous claims last year that Meghan and Harry spent extended spells apart, with him allegedly using a hotel room bolthole, were denied by those close to the couple.
And allegations that other properties in Montecito have been “leased” by them are said to be false, according to California sources.
But The Sun understands Harry did spend many days away from his mansion writing Spare, while Meghan filmed her upcoming cookery show in another house entirely.
It was said that, like any other couple, they have disagreements but remained strong.
Meghan has reportedly been frustrated with Harry’s legal cases, which are still dragging on through the courts in London.
And the couple reportedly disagreed on how to raise their children, Archie, now five, and Lilibet, three.
Harry, The Sun has been told, did not want the kids to be seen in public in case they were photographed.
But Meghan would allegedly prefer a more relaxed lifestyle, allowing them to attend more local events.
The Sussexes have travelled together on two major overseas engagements this year.
‘One stays with children’
In May, they spent three days in Nigeria, which Meghan announced was her motherland, saying the country’s people were in her DNA.
They held hands often, though on occasions during the tour Harry seemed to be following Meghan’s lead.
But witnesses say that, by the time they made their semi-royal tour to Colombia in August, Harry often looked grumpy and like a “spare”, as Meghan’s relationship with the country’s vice president, Francia Marquez, took centre stage.
He does want to spend more time in the UK, but said he can’t bring Meghan back because he doesn’t feel she is safe without an armed police presence.
Harry & Meghan 'insider'
However, in the past two weeks, Harry has appeared far happier and relaxed in New York, London and Lesotho, where Meghan has been notably absent.
He has also been reaching out to old friends in the UK, seemingly yearning after his old life.
It is, however, denied that he wishes to resume being a working royal.
An insider told The Sun: “He has been speaking to old friends and wanting to reconnect.
“He does want to spend more time in the UK, but said he can’t bring Meghan back because he doesn’t feel she is safe without an armed police presence.
“But the idea he is asking the Palace and his family to make a return to royal duty is wide of the mark.”
Harry’s father, Charles, 75, has not been in contact with his son since they spent 30 minutes together in February following the King’s cancer announcement.
And William, 42, does not appear to have spoken to his brother since the September 2022 funeral of Queen Elizabeth, due to Harry’s insults and mud-slinging in his six-part Netflix series and memoir, Spare.
They avoided each other at a memorial service for their late mum Diana’s brother-in-law, Lord Robert Fellowes, in August.
But Harry did hire a UK-based representative to improve his reputation here.
And he hinted in an Invictus Games interview that he wants to return home more often.
Earlier this year, he and Meghan rebranded as sussex.com, with a royal crest.
But Ashley Hansen — credited with ending the couple’s personal and public attacks on the Royal Family — is now spreading her wings.
Their chief of staff, Josh Kettler, left after three months.
And the pair were stung by claims in The Hollywood Reporter that some staff called Meghan “Duchess Difficult” and a “dictator in high heels”, while describing Harry as an “enabler”.
Ashley was quick to defend Meghan against the allegations to Us Weekly.
HOW TO WATCH THE SUN’S ROYAL EXCLUSIVE LIVE SPECIAL
HERE'S how you can watch The Sun's Royal Exclusive Live special - where our panel of experts will spill all.
The show – which is airing to a live studio audience tonight – will be streamed on our YouTube channel tomorrow at 5pm.
If you’re desperate to know the truth about Prince William and Harry’s feud or what Kate really thinks of Prince Louis’ cheeky antics, tune into the live special.
Ticketholders get the lowdown on the Royal Family including all-things Harry and Meghan as well as William and Kate‘s continued strength amid the princess’ cancer battle.
Our expert panel includes The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, The Sun’s Royal Photographer Arthur Edwards and ex-BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond.
The trio will share some of their favourite stories about the Firm, lifting the lid on what it’s like to work with them, and some of their biggest scoops to date.
Guests will also get the opportunity to ask questions about what really goes on behind the doors of the palace.
Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson has covered the family for The Sun since 2020.
In a string of world exclusives, Matt revealed Harry and Meghan were evicted from Frogmore Cottage, broke the news that the Queen was secretly in hospital, revealed Kate’s shock Windsor Farmshop appearance and video and told how Prince Andrew losing his security at Royal Lodge.
Joining him will be Arthur Edwards, who has been capturing the Royal Family for 40 years, and Jennie Bond, former royal correspondent.
Royal Exclusive is our flagship royal news YouTube show, which launched at the start of this year – already amassing over 30million views.
Matt, who hosts the hit show, has previously interviewed ITV’s Chris Ship, royal biographer Ingrid Seward, Historian Gareth Russell and Historian and biographer Hugo Vickers.
The show is also a platform to discuss Matt’s scoops in more detail and gives experts to discuss stories such as Kate’s lunch with the King after her cancer diagnosis and the continued fallout with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Rather tellingly, a statement commenting on her departure was issued by Meghan, not Harry.
It said: “We are so proud of Ashley, especially as a female entrepreneur.
“We look forward to having her focused expertise on our business and creative projects and her continued oversight of our communications team.
“My husband and I are excited to be alongside Ashley as she builds something extraordinarily special with her firm.”
People mag in the US, which has a close relationship with Archewell, yesterday quoted a “friend” who described the changes in Meg and Harry’s roles as a “twin-track approach”.
They said: “An entrepreneurial and enterprise focus is going to be more the Duchess’s priority.
“And the Duke will continue to champion his not-for-profit patronages. But there will be joint efforts around cause-driven areas of work.”
They added of the couple’s time apart: “It’s as much a reflection on parenting priorities, in that one of them stays behind with the children.”
SO HAPPY TO BE BACK
By Arthur Edwards Sun Royal Photographer
AFRICA has always been Prince Harry’s happy place. And while so many people in the world think the Duke of Sussex is no longer such a nice person, the herd boys of Lesotho still look on him as a hero.
I went to this landlocked country in South Africa twice with Harry when he set up the charity Sentebale with his good friend, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.
It was established to teach the boys, who would venture alone into the mountains for weeks on end to look after sheep and cattle, how to read and write.
Many of the almost-feral kids travelled for two hours to attend the charity’s night school. In poor light from lanterns, they listened to the teacher, desperate to learn.
In the back room of the school, as he made me a cup of tea, Harry revealed: “This project is the most important thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
He said that the boys will still have to visit the pastures to tend the herds, but at least they could take a book with them to read.
For that visit, he took his brother, Prince William, to show him the project. They were so close then.
Now, in the latest pictures from Lesotho, Harry looks so happy to be back. He is hugging kids again and doing what he is so brilliant at.
On his past three visits to the UK, Harry has arrived without fuss or arguments then gone again.
He realises his father and his brother are still very hostile to him. But maybe, just maybe, he has come to realise that perhaps it is his fault and nobody else’s.
What happens in a family should be kept in the family, not shared with the world, especially if it’s the Royal Family.
We could be seeing the start here of something new from Harry – at least we’ve got to hope so.