They might be full-time residents of the sunny shores of California, but since stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have certainly not kept a low profile – whether through their own choices or not. More than members of the British royal family, the two are leading public figures and fashion icons.
With Baby Number #2 due within the next few months, interest in this power couple has been prominent than ever – so here’s everything you need to know about the recent Harry and Meghan gossip.
Vax Live
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were announced as co-chairs of Global Citizen’s Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World. This event is held in Los Angeles, encouraging the United States and international citizens to ensure they get their COVID-19 vaccination when offered it. Prince Harry made an in-person appearance on the 1st of May to give a speech to the gathered crowd of fully vaccinated health workers, alongside celebrity guests Selena Gomez, Chrissy Teigen and the Foo Fighters, among many others.
Variety reported that Meghan leads the charge to engage the private sector in helping spread awareness of vaccination programmes. According to the Daily Mirror, the Duchess, who is heavily pregnant, appeared in a pre-recorded message on Saturday 8th to talk to the gathered attendees and, according to the Daily Mirror, was wearing a selection of her late mother-in-law’s jewels, including a gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch, a favourite of Princess Diana.
The Bench
It was announced at the beginning of May that the Duchess of Sussex would publish a children’s book titled ‘The Bench’, about the relationship between a father and his son. Inspired by her own husband and son and illustrated by Christian Robinson, the book is set to be released on the 8th of June, with pre-order sales already sold out all over the world.
Though members of the press, particularly the British tabloids and Twitterer Piers Morgan, were quick to heap scorn on the Duchess – particularly for the use of her title – she would not be the first member of the Royal Family to have written a book. Prince Charles, Sarah Ferguson (who was credited as Sarah, Duchess of York), and the Duchess of Cambridge have each published books on various topics. The Duchess will also voice an audio version of the book.
Archie’s birthday
The 6th of May saw worldwide celebrations of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie, as he turned two. With virtual well-wishes from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and from the central Royal Household itself, the couple released a photograph of their young son with his birthday balloons via their Archewell website. They encouraged supporters to make a donation to a children’s charity, thanking them for their kind wishes.
Hello magazine also reported that, in celebration of Archie’s birthday, the couple had bought 200 knitted beanie hats from Make Give Live, a New Zealand organisation, which offers a ‘buy one, give one purchase option. The beanies will be sent in care packages to refugee camps across the globe.
The funeral of Prince Phillip
Whilst the country mourned the loss of the Duke of Edinburgh, speculation over the appearance of Prince Harry and whether he and his brother had begun to mend the rift caused between them was constantly on the minds of the tabloid press. Meghan, who had hoped to attend but was ordered not to for medical reasons by her doctor, watched from California.
The Independent reported that Meghan and Harry had put together a wreath that would be displayed in St George’s Chapel when the funeral took place, alongside a handwritten card for the Duke of Edinburgh that the Duchess wrote herself. A source told People Magazine that the Sussexes had also been in direct contact with the Queen following her husband’s passing to explain her absence and to offer their condolences.
Finding more freedom
News broke in April that ‘Finding Freedom’, the biography of the Sussexes written by royal correspondents Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, is going to be re-published and expanded to include the newest updates to the couples lives. This expansion will likely include accusations of bullying, their exit as senior members of the family – and that Oprah interview.
Hello magazine reported that the authors, who are both members of the Royal Press Corp, wrote the book based on their experiences with the couple’s independent reporting as part of the reporter’s pool. The Sunday Times described the biography as ‘flattering’ towards the couple, stated the new edition would also include the fallout from the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
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