Prince Harry, speaking at The New York Times' 2024 DealBook Summit in New York City, directly addressed persistent rumors about his marriage to Meghan Markle, dismissing them with characteristic humor and candor. The Duke of Sussex was candid about the challenges of living under constant public scrutiny, using the opportunity to set the record straight on his relationship while discussing his broader goals for social impact.
Appearing on stage with NYT columnist and DealBook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin, Harry tackled questions about media fascination with his life. Sorkin noted the intense speculation surrounding the couple's separate public engagements, referencing Meghan's attendance at the Paley Honors gala in Beverly Hills while Harry was in New York.
Sorkin asked, "Is that normal for you that the second there's an article - she's in California, you're in New York - they say, 'What is happening with these two?' Is that a good thing for you, in a way, that there's so much interest in you?"
Harry's response was both direct and humorous. "No, that's definitely not a good thing," he said. "Apparently, we've bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We've apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it's just like, what?"
Laughing off the rumors, he added, "It's hard to keep up with, but that's why you just sort of ignore it. The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls. Their hopes are just built and built, and then it doesn't happen. So I feel sorry for them. Genuinely, I do."
Reflecting on his relationship with the media, Harry shared insights from his childhood, growing up in the glare of the royal spotlight. He recalled the relentless scrutiny faced by his late mother, Princess Diana, and the invasive narratives surrounding his family. "I've had a lived experience since I was a kid," Harry said. "I've seen stories written about myself that aren't exactly based on reality. I've seen stories about members of my family, friends, strangers, all sorts of people."
Harry humorously noted the inevitability of media distortion, saying he had "no doubt" his conversation with Sorkin "will be spun or twisted somehow against me." Addressing the host, he quipped, "Maybe you yourself will be trolled relentlessly. For that, I can only apologize, but you did invite me, so it's not my fault."
The Duke used the platform to highlight his philanthropic priorities, including initiatives through the Archewell Foundation, which he co-founded with Meghan. These efforts include advocating for safer online environments for children. "I would welcome the chance to sit down with the shareholders of social media companies, because they're the ones in control," Harry said. "I'm sure they are parents, and I hope they would agree that kids need to be kept safe."
Harry also touched on his role as a father to Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, emphasizing his commitment to their upbringing. He highlighted his main goal as "being the best husband and dad that I can be." Reflecting on his life in California, Harry added, "I very much enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here. There are activities we can do here that we undoubtedly couldn't in the U.K."
The Duke's remarks come as he and Meghan appear to be charting individual paths in their public lives. Meghan's attendance at the Paley Honors gala to celebrate Tyler Perry marked her focus on entrepreneurial ventures, while Harry's New York trip included a launch event for an art exhibit benefiting his charity, Sentebale.
A royal insider described their approach as a "twin-track" strategy, with Harry immersing himself in philanthropy and Meghan honing her business acumen. "The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals - not just as a couple," the source noted.
