Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step out for Duchess of Sussex’s birthday dinner

Prince Harry and Meghan have been spotted out and about for the first time in months, attending a swanky birthday dinner for the Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry enjoy a date night in Montecito. Picture: LIGHTWORKERS

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been spotted out and about for the first time since May, with the couple enjoying a date night in California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were photographed leaving up-market Italian restaurant Tre Lune in Montecito Thursday – on the eve of Meghan’s 42nd birthday.

Joined by a group of friends, Meghan was dressed in a strapless black-and-white midi dress, while Harry kept it casual in a blue linen shirt and pants.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry step out for a date night in Montecito. Picture: LIGHTWORKERS

The outing, the couple’s first together since their ill-fated New York trip in May when they were reportedly involved in a car chase, came just one day after the pair put on a united front in a new video, in which they were filmed calling recipients of the first Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund (RTYPF) grants to congratulate them.

Back-to-back days of rare appearances for Meghan and Harry follow mounting reports the parents-of-two have been spending time apart; rumours of which have been swiftly denied by an insider.

Meghan wore a strapless dress from celebrity-favourite label, Posse. Picture: LIGHTWORKERS

The couple dined at Tre Lune in Montecito. Picture: LIGHTWORKERS

A source close to the couple, who share Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2, told the New York Post: “It’s not true, it’s literally made up.”

Omid Scobie, a royal commentator who is close to the Sussexes also rejected claims the marriage was on the rocks.

Further, it was announced last week that the couple will attend the Invictus Games in Germany together next month, which were founded by the duke in 2014 in honour of wounded and injured service men and women.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released a new video this week for the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund Announcement. Picture: Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund/Vimeo

It’s certainly been a turbulent year for the Sussex brand.

In June, their $29 million Spotify deal dramatically ended after just one 13-episode series – Meghan’s Archetypes. The lucrative deal was said to have collapsed because the couple failed to meet “productivity requirements”.

Spotify and the couple’s company Archewell released a joint statement that claimed the deal was ended by “mutual agreement”.

But shortly afterwards, Spotify’s head of global sports content Bill Simmons labelled them “f***ing grifters” and said the duke was useless with ideas.

“I gotta get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea.

“It’s one of my best stories,” he said on an episode of his own show, The Bill Simmons Podcast.

Harry and Meghan were last seen publicly together in May, attending the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards: Celebrating Generations of Progress & Power. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women

Meanwhile the couple’s Netflix deal is also said to be under pressure.

In July, the UK’s Bella magazine reported Meghan was taking a “step away” from their joint brand to focus on solo projects.

“Meghan feels she’ll have better success if she takes the time to work on projects alone without Harry – even though he always gives her his full support,” a source said.

The insider added that her recent decision to sign with Hollywood talent agency WME – which also represents Adele and Serena Williams – was about making her a “power player” in the industry in her own right.