‘Toxic’: Reason Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have been apart

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been seen together in more than a month. Here’s why, according to an expert.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not made a joint appearance in more than a month, leading to speculation that their marriage could be under pressure.

The pair are normally seen glued to each other’s side at public events but have lately been pictured solo when out and about.

Meghan Markle during one of her recent solo appearances at the the 2024 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala. Picture: Getty Images

However, PR expert Ed Coram James claims there is a key reason for their lack of unity, saying it’s all about business and rebranding.

“Since their marriage, Harry and Meghan have had a distinct brand,” James told GB News.

“That brand is based on a duo. Call it ‘Harry and Meghan’, call it ‘the Sussexes’, call it whatever you like. The fact is that for years they have become synonymous with one another.”

James said the couple’s joint image has become “toxic” and that the solo outings are a deliberate attempt at rebranding.

He said: “Since the famous Oprah interview, in which they took a simmering disagreement between themselves and the rest of the royal family and essentially declared all-out-war, that brand has been steadily becoming more toxic and thus commercially untenable to the point where not that many major brands are going to be rushing to write them a large cheque based on their brand value.

Prince Harry at a Sentebale reception and panel discussion at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, earlier this month. Picture: Getty Images for Sentebale

“When combined, the Sussexes brand is, from a PR perspective, toxic. But, when separate, they have a genuine chance of creating an entirely separate brand, with completely different labels.”

According to GB News, Prince Harry and Meghan’s marriage is stronger than ever.

“She has really felt the strain in recent weeks, and with all the speculation surrounding her and Harry and their marriage,” a source said.

“They haven’t done themselves any favours by doing so many separate events but this is what they have decided to do as it works best for them at the moment as a couple and they both feel they can shine at events that are close to their hearts.”

SUITS STAR DROPS REUNION HINT

Meghan Markle’s former Suits co-star appears to have dropped a huge hint about her next move.

Actor Patrick Adams is set to launch a new Suits podcast with Sarah Raffery, who played Donna Paulsen on Suits, and has reached out to Meghan about making an appearance.

Adams told The Hollywood Reporter: “We’ve reached out to everybody and said, ‘Come on as much and as often as possible,’ and then we’ll independently keep going back out, seeing what their schedules are.”

Patrick Adams and Meghan Markle in their Suits days. Picture: USA Network

Adams confirmed that Meghan, who quit acting when she became engaged to Prince Harry, had also received an invitation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He also said upon hearing about the podcast, titled Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast, Meghan sent “a lovely text message when we decided we were doing it”.

Meghan has previously distanced herself from her former Suits castmates and was noticeably absent from a major reunion earlier this year at the Golden Globes.

HARRY BRANDED ‘LAMB TO SLAUGHTER’

Prince Harry has been dubbed a “lamb to the slaughter” who has “blindly followed” the actions of his wife Meghan Markle since their marriage.

Legendary editor Tina Brown said the royal has been “getting it all wrong” since he tied the knot with the Duchess of Sussex.

In the years since their 2018 marriage, Prince Harry’s relations with his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, have hit rock bottom  after the royal’s explosive revelations about  life within the royal family.

Prince Harry looked deep in thought at the UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony at the United Nations in New York in 2022. Picture: AFP

Brown, the former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, accused Meghan of having poor judgment in a scathing takedown on The Ankler podcast with Janice Win.

“The trouble with Meghan is that she has the worst judgment of anyone in the entire world,” she said.

“She’s flawless about getting it all wrong. All of her ideas are total crap, unfortunately.”

Brown said Prince Harry was heavily influenced  by his wife and almost child-like in his adoration of her.

Tina Brown has accused Prince Harry of being weak. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Harry is heavily influenced by his wife, says Tina Brown. Picture: AFP

“[Harry is] the lamb to the slaughter in this situation. And he just sort of blindly followed her like a child, really.”

Brown has previously dubbed the royal a “very impetuous man”.

She said: “He was so fragile, so combustible, he was so unhappy, frankly, in the constraints of the royal family.”

It came after royal  expert Jennie Bond claimed that Meghan could be opting to keep her personal memoir “in her back pocket” should she need it later “for revenge”.

Rumours continue to swirl about a potential memoir from Meghan Markle. Picture: AFP

Meghan hinted at a journal from her royal days in a 2022 interview, fuelling rumours of anther tell-all.

“It’s more than two years since she gave that interview, and she has steered clear of controversy about the royal family since,” Bond told OK!

“Obviously, the journal she mentioned will remain a potential weapon in her back pocket if she ever feels the need to seek some sort of revenge.”

However, Bond noted that Meghan had “behaved with discretion and dignity” ever since her explosive Oprah Winfrey interview and the couple’s Netflix documentary series.

“I think she is looking forwards, not backwards and is moving on with her life,” she said.

“So I don’t think we should be raising false alarms about any potential memoir.”

Rumours of Meghan’s tell-all book have been swirling ever since Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare hit shelves in January 2023.

Originally published as ‘Toxic’: Reason Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have been apart