A “SOLO” Prince Harry wants his space from his wife Meghan Markle and it was his idea to do public appearances alone, it has been claimed.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, is thought to be thriving on his own “world tour”, having travelled from his home in California to New York to London and most recently Lesotho in southern Africa.
He has been undertaking speaking engagements at awards ceremonies and taking part in charitable panels and summits.
Some commentators see this as the prince doing a “full relaunch” of his charity work – and lately his wife, Meghan Markle, is nowhere to be seen in public.
Sources in California say the new “solo Harry” is his own idea.
One “well-placed” source in the US told the Daily Mail: “I hear he wanted it this way. I believe he wants space”.
In some ways though Harry’s recent trip has highlighted his isolation from his family and friends.
He didn’t see his brother, Prince William, while in London, and they seem just as far apart as ever, with neither side seemingly to want to patch things up.
Harry didn’t see his dad, King Charles, either as the monarch was up in Scotland.
A source has claimed Charles made “no effort” to contact his youngest son.
The last time father and son met was on February 6 at Clarence House for about half an hour after Harry flew in following the King’s cancer diagnosis.
It’s also believed he didn’t see his cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, on his visit – despite them supposedly being the family members he has remained closest to.
It’s said Harry stayed in a central hotel in London, along with his security detail.
A report has also suggest that a member of his security team David ‘Langers’ Langdown is now his closest friend.
Similarly, friends such as George Clooney, who was a guest at his wedding in 2018, and the Obamas, who went to events for the Invictus Games, have not recently been seen next to the royal.
And, even after their recent trips to Nigeria and Colombia, Meghan hasn’t been seen by his side lately either.
However, other sources have interpreted the prince’s “solo Harry” rebrand differently.
One, based in London, told the paper: “This definitely feels like he is upping his game to cement his position as a serious player on the international stage.
“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 added: “It is a surprise that he went to Lesotho without Meghan. 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].
“’He first went there as a teenager and the Royal Family there is like his second family.”
Prince Seeiso and Harry are so close that the younger brother of Lesotho’s king, with whom he founded the Sentebale charity, call one another “brother”.
The source said: “Sentebale is such a big part of his life you’d think he would want to share it.”
Signs of a “brand separation” between Harry and Meghan had already been emerging before the world tour.
Harry launched the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany, alone and launched his memoirs, Spare, without his wife.
Meanwhile, Meghan had signed up with agent Ari Emanuel and was planning, although not then announced, the launch of her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.
This week, it was reported that Harry spent his milestone 40th birthday without his wife, meaning they have not seen each other since September 14.
Royal expert Hugo Vickers told the Sun he had noticed a “sea change” in the prince’s public engagements recently.
He said: “What he seems to be doing now, which is rather wonderful, is doing what he used to do so well, which is engaging with youngsters, and giving them awards rather than receiving an award.
“And he seems to be doing that, and he is indeed doing it on his own without Meghan Markle.
“Now, whether that’s simply because she’s at home with the children that could be, or it may be a strategic move.”
The Sun Online has contacted the Sussexes’ PR for comment.
EARLIER this week, Prince Harry made a solo trip to attend the WellChild Awards in Britain.
He met seriously ill youngsters and their families, and was somewhat upstaged by six-year-old Noah Nicholson, who threw his soft toys at the prince and laughed as Harry picked them up.
Prince Harry noticed that Noah was carrying a giraffe toy named “Raffy” – the same toy the six-year-old had when they first met in 2019.
He said: “Is this the same one? No way! Every parent has a spare. I’ve got at least six spares.
“My daughter Lili has these Lovies.”
At the annual London event, Harry – who was not accompanied by his wife Meghan Markle – gave an award for an Inspirational Child, aged 4 to 6, and delivered a speech.
He hailed a group of “little legends” honoured at the awards ceremony for “uplifting all those around you” despite serious illnesses.
Late last month, Harry also put in a surprise appearance on America’s longest running late night talk show.
He took a tour of a haunted maze with Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon which aired last Thursday night.
As the frights came to a climax at Fallon’s new Tonightmares attraction at the Rockefeller Center in New York, the royal could be seen shouting “Jesus, f**k!”
In one comedy moment of the skit on NBC, which lasted almost three minutes, an actress playing a zombie failed to recognise Harry.
After he passed her by she was shown asking a colleague: “Who was that?”
It came as Harry has spent some time in New York on a solo trip without wife Meghan.
