Why Meghan Markle has been absent from spotlight
Meghan Markle has been notably missing as Prince Harry promotes his explosive memoir. Here’s why.
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Meghan Markle has been notably absent from Prince Harry’s lengthy media tour for Spare amid claims she was “more wary” of the book’s release due to its shock revelations.
The royal couple typically put on a united front in all of their public appearances and projects.
But throughout Prince Harry’s release of his explosive memoir Spare — which has included high-profile TV interviews with Tom Bradby, Anderson Cooper and Stephen Colbert — Ms Markle has been notably absent.
The Duchess was last spotted publicly with Prince Harry in December 2022, when the royal couple travelled to New York to accept an award for their “heroic” stand against “structural racism” in the royal family from Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy.
Sources have told the Telegraph that had Ms Markle been involved in any aspect of promoting the book, she may well have been accused of trying to steal the limelight.
The Telegraph reports that a source close to the couple said Ms Markle was “more wary” about the memoir than Prince Harry was, adding she may have raised “gentle concerns”.
The memoir includes claims that Prince William physically attacked Prince Harry in a ferocious argument and that King Charles put his own interests above his son’s.
It also delves into Prince Harry’s traumatic childhood and teenage years, including his drug use and how he lost his virginity.
The newspaper reports that once Prince Harry made up his mind to go ahead with the project with ghostwriter JR Moehringer, the Duchess of Sussex remained supportive.
“Is this the way she would have approached things? Possibly not,” said one source.
“But she will always back him and would never have got involved in promoting such a personal project. This is about his own life, his own journey and his own perspective.”
Brand experts have said the revelations — including the Duke’s claim that he killed 25 Taliban fighters — could hinder Ms Markle’s possible political hopes.
It has been claimed that Spare has become the fastest-selling non-fiction book since records began in 1998.