A royal expert has claimed that Prince Harry’s upcoming solo trip to New York without his wife Meghan Markle is “another attempt to prove he’s relevant”. Harry is set to represent the Archewell Foundation at the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week and Climate Week. Prince William, the Duke’s estranged brother, is also expected in New York at the same time for the Earthshot Prize.
Former BBC royal affairs correspondent Michael Cole said on GB News that Harry’s trip was an attempt to “prove he still matters” after stepping down from the royal family. “When you’re a member of the royal family, you just matter. When you’re a semi-detached member of the royal family living in California, you have to be out and about to show the world that you have some value, hence the recent trips with his wife to Nigeria and Colombia,” Cole said.
“He is going to New York during the week of the General Assembly, the largest debate in the world, and Climate Week, carrying the banner of the Archewell Foundation,” he added.
Cole also discussed possible reasons why Meghan will not accompany Harry on the trip. He mentioned a previous incident in New York in which the Sussexes were involved in a car chase.
“We don’t know why she’s not leaving. Maybe she has other things to do. She has to make jam and talk to people on her hill in Montecito,” Cole said.
“Are you worried about another one of those two-hour, relentless chases through New York City like the one that took place last May? Even though both the taxi driver and the mayor of New York have come forward to dispute the story that they were followed by paparazzi and scared to death,” he added.
Cole also praised Harry for his charitable work, but wondered if the public would be “interested” in his recent trip without his wife.
“They have repeatedly set new standards to prove their relevance”
Presenter Bev Turner said the prince’s travel to New York alone “sparks speculation” because his life is “built on his relationship” with Meghan. “When you build a career entirely on your personal life, your relationship and your marriage, as they did with their Netflix documentary and his book Spare,” Turner said.
“When your life revolves around your relationships and then you have to go without your wife, it triggers speculation. Because there is no other substance behind what they are doing,” Turner added.
Cole agreed with Turner, saying, “What do they have to sell? They’re famous, and that’s one factor that’s fading fast in all this. And in America, they don’t want what was yesterday, they want what’s next.”
“They have stepped forward time and time again to prove that they are relevant and important. But they could very well have done this within the Royal Family – they would have had the structure and the support to do wonderful work across the 54 countries of the Commonwealth,” he continued.
He added: “They started doing it, and they did pretty well, and she was an asset. But then in 2020, they suddenly got scared, jumped on a plane to Canada and then to California, which may have been their goal all along.”
