Prince Harry has ultimately confronted the persistent speculation around his potential divorce from Meghan Markle.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, participated in a candid dialogue with reporters today at the 2024 New York Times DealBook Summit, PEOPLE Magazine reported. When asked about the current state of his personal life, Harry responded with a wry smile.
"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?" Prince Harry said, laughing off the divorce speculations. He referenced the countless baseless rumors disseminated on social media by trolls concerning his personal life.
Prince Harry regarded the rumors about his marriage with skepticism. Explaining the infrequency of his and Meghan's professional appearances perpetuates speculation about their separation. "Because you invited me, you should have known," he told a journalist, as per The Mirror.
While the Prince addressed the audience at the 2024 New York Times DealBook Summit, Meghan attended an awards ceremony in California, thousands of miles away. She adorned herself with additional garments from her designer collection, including a pair of black Stuart Weitzman heels.
"I've had a lived experience since I was a kid, 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," Prince Harry confessed.
"And I think when you grow up within that environment, you do find yourself questioning the validity of the information but also what other people are thinking of that as well, and how dangerous it can be over the course of time," he went on.
"The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls. Their hopes are just built and built, and it's like, 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,' and then it doesn't happen. So I feel sorry for them. Genuinely, I do," Prince Harry concluded.
He and the Duchess of Sussex, who previously addressed similar interview inquiries in 2021, seem to remain united amid persistent divorce speculation, despite Harry and Meghan undertaking several individual engagements in recent weeks.
Today, the Duchess of Sussex was hundreds of miles away in California, attending an awards ceremony. A German documentary named "Harry: The Lost Prince" has recently featured severe criticism of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, particularly regarding the contradiction between their highly publicized visits to impoverished nations and Meghan's luxury attire.
"If you're going to places like Nigeria, like Colombia, which have huge socio-economic problems, some of the world's poorest communities in these countries, and you're turning up wearing tens of thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes - it really doesn't send the right message," royal editor Russell Myers said.
Social media reacted fervently to Prince Harry's remarks and Meghan's appearance in California.
“Harry’s comments are funny, but Meghan’s spending undermines their supposed mission. Hypocrisy much?” an X user wrote. “Harry’s right—trolls need to get a life. Let them live!” another netizen stated.
“Meghan’s outfit at the awards show? Stunning, but maybe not for a ‘humanitarian,’” a third source said. “The criticism of Meghan’s wardrobe is just another excuse to attack her. It’s tired and unfair,” a royal fan shared.
“Harry and Meghan seem united despite the rumors. Media should move on," an X user commented. “They’re trying to stay relevant, but the contradictions are glaring," another netizen added.
Business Times has reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for comments.
