Prince Harry is scheduled to participate in a solo engagement in New York next week, but this event coincides with a significant occasion in the Royal Family's calendar.
Prince Harry is booked to return to New York on December 4 to talk at the New York Times DealBook Conference.
On the same day, Meghan Markle is anticipated to attend the 2024 Paley Honors Fall Gala, where their buddy, Tyler Perry, will receive The Paley Honors Award, as reported by The Mirror.
The scheduling of the activities has been scrutinized once further, as both royals are undertaking commitments on the same day that King Charles will host His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, for a two-day state visit from December 3 to December 4.
This will be Princess Kate's inaugural engagement of this nature since her cancer diagnosis, as she is scheduled to welcome the Emir and Her Highness, Sheikha Jawaher, at their residence on behalf of The King upon their arrival.
Prince Harry last visited New York in September to undertake solo engagements supporting several charities and organizations, including African Parks, The HALO Trust, and The Diana Award. Meghan Markle was observed at an LA Children's Hospital banquet and independently attended a digital wellness session.
The duo has generated speculation due to a series of increasingly distinct public appearances in recent months following their joint tour of Colombia during the summer.
Notwithstanding their recent individual engagements, the couple intends to co-host the Winter Invictus Games in February 2025, and Meghan Markle has consistently championed her husband's charitable endeavors since their relationship.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry once implored the Royal Family to postpone significant news announcements, as revealed in the book Endgame by author Omid Scobie.
Queen Elizabeth II's death was announced at 6:30 PM on September 8, 2022, shortly before Harry arrived in Aberdeen en route to Balmoral.
The book "Endgame" asserts that Buckingham Palace intended to issue a statement sooner, but Harry "pleaded" with them to delay, Express UK reported. Inclement weather necessitated his jet circling the airfield prior to landing, and he wished to be present with them at that moment.
"When Harry’s plane finally touched the tarmac twenty minutes later, he received a text from Meghan urging him to call ASAP followed by a breaking news alert via the BBC News app with the announcement of the Queen’s death," the extract read.
The Palace initially consented to postpone but ultimately resolved to proceed with the announcement in his absence.
The conflicting schedules and disclosures from "Endgame" have incited extensive discussion online.
"Harry and Meghan’s separate commitments speak volumes. Are they really still a team?" one netizen wrote on X. "Let them live their lives! They’re doing important work on their own terms," a second user said.
"The timing of these events feels calculated. It’s hard not to notice the tension," a third source noted. "Excited for Harry’s talk at DealBook! He’s doing great things outside the Royal bubble," a fourth X user added.
"Tyler Perry deserves this honor, and Meghan supporting him shows her loyalty to friends," a fifth netizen claimed. "Separate engagements don’t mean trouble. They’re just busy people with different projects," another X user added.
Business Times has reached out to Prince Harry and King Charles for comments.
