Real reason Harry and Meghan are spending time apart: Friend

“Damned if they do, damned if they don’t”: It’s the big question surrounding Harry and Meghan – and a friend has now weighed in.

IN LONDON

Meghan Markle once famously compared her tight-knit relationship with Prince Harry to “salt and pepper – we always move together”.

For their first several years together, that certainly appeared to be the case. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were considered as one, brand-wise, and were regularly spotted hand-in-hand at their working engagements.

However, it’s been some months now since that was the norm. Following a bruising few years in the press and a public rift with the royal family, they now clearly appear to be largely professionally separated – inevitably sparking questions about their marriage, too.

Harry just wrapped up a solo tour of Lesotho. Picture: Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale

… While Meghan attended the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Gala over the weekend by herself. Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Harry is now wrapping up a weeks-long solo tour which took him from New York City to London to Lesotho, even reportedly extending his time in southern Africa in order to have some “private” time catching up with family and friends.

“[It’s] as much a reflection on parenting priorities, in that one of them stays behind with the children,” a friend of the couple’s told People magazine, referencing Harry and Meghan’s two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

“With their recent trips to Nigeria and Colombia, as well as their foundation-led events, it is still evident they show up together for the causes they jointly support.

“What we are seeing is a functional and healthy relationship with two working partners, not the contrary.”

Harry has recently been focusing on his various patronages, including Sentebale, the UK’s WellChild charity and also The Halo Trust, while Meghan is busily preparing for the long-awaited launch of her new lifestyle and homeward brand, American Riviera Orchard, and its associated Netflix series.

“It’s clear that a twin-track approach is evolving,” the friend told People.

“The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals – not just as a couple. The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her entrepreneurial track.”

The couple together in Lagos earlier this year. Picture: Kola Sulaimon/AFP

While the friend insisted that the couple were happy as ever, separate claims emerged over the weekend painting a not-so-rosy picture of Harry’s current mindset.

A source told the Daily Mail that Harry is reportedly taking his “fall from grace” quite hard as he desperately attempts to repair his public image, with others suggesting that going “solo” professionally was his own idea.

An insider claimed the duke “wanted it this way” and “wants space” as he tries to navigate this next phase in his post-royal career.

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

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

They also expressed “surprise” that Meghan had not joined Harry in Lesotho last week.

“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.”