‘Desperate’ Prince Harry serious about ‘repairing’ image solo

In recent weeks, Prince Harry has been back in the spotlight solo, leading royal insiders to suggest the Duke is serious about returning to the public’s good books – sans Meghan.

Sources claim that Prince Harry is taking his “fall from grace” quite hard, as he faces fading A-lister friendships and attempts to repair his public image — making numerous public appearances in recent weeks sans wife Meghan Markle.

The Duke of Sussex was not in attendance at his supposedly close friend George Clooney’s humanitarian awards ceremony in New York last week, despite being in the city for a high-profile appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon the same day.

Last week, Prince Harry made multiple appearances in New York including at a Clinton Global Initiative event. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Harry paid a visit to the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on the same day his pal George Clooney held an exclusive party. Picture: Supplied

Last year, Johnny Hornby, once a staunch ally of the prince, stepped down from the Duke of Sussex’s charity to work with a high-profile critic of Ms Markle, divisive TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, who is close to the Royal Family.

Coupled with his many appearances and trips, such as travelling to London and Lesotho in South Africa, without his wife in tow, sources are speculating as to why Prince Harry is opting to go solo.

While a Sussex source in California told the Daily Mail that “solo Harry” is the Duke’s idea — saying the royal “wanted it this way” and “wants space” — London insiders offered more insight.

Prince Harry greets guests at an event in Johannesburg. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Harry has spent the past few days in southern Africa. Picture: Getty Images for Sentebale

One London source told the Daily Mail that Prince Harry might be getting serious about repairing his public image and needs to do so alone.

“This definitely feels like he is upping his game to cement his position as a serious player on the international stage,” the source claimed.

“He’s always been desperate to be taken seriously and people I know say his fall from grace will really have got to him.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured in Colombia in August have not been seen together publicly in recent weeks. Picture: AFP

The same source, however, said they were surprised that Ms Markle did not accompany Prince Harry to Lesotho, despite her noticeable absence from Harry’s 40th birthday celebration last month.

The Daily Mail reported, however, that it was supposedly Meghan who planned Harry’s birthday, which involved a hiking trip with his friends.

“There may be a good reason she can’t leave the kids, but she’s never been to Lesotho and that surprises me — it is like a second home [to Harry],” they said, adding that the “royal family there is like his second family.”

“Sentebale is such a big part of his life, you’d think he would want to share it.”

Originally published as ‘Desperate’ Prince Harry serious about ‘repairing’ image solo