Meghan Markle is reportedly distancing herself from the ongoing drama surrounding Prince Harry and his family as she focuses on building her lifestyle brand, according to a royal source. The Duchess of Sussex is said to be keen to steer clear of what is described as Harry's 'chaos' to achieve her business goals.
The couple were notably absent from the guest list for Peter Phillips' wedding to NHS nurse Harriet Sperling, which took place on 6 June in the Cotswolds. Senior royals including King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales attended, but Palace sources say the Duke of Sussex was left out due to his decision to step back from royal duties.
Royal author Duncan Larcombe suggested that even if Harry had received an invitation, he would likely have declined because of his ongoing rift with his brother, Prince William, who was present. 'The sticking point is William's attendance,' Larcombe said. 'Harry's not going to agree to go to an event where he's going to be forced to come face to face with his brother, who is absolutely still livid with him.'
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond warned that Harry's presence would overshadow the happy couple, calling it 'the biggest no-no'. She added, 'That's undoubtedly what would happen if Harry, with or without Meghan, went to the wedding.'
Larcombe also noted that Harry's embrace of a celebrity lifestyle contradicts his earlier complaints about life in the spotlight. 'Meghan's keeping very busy building her brand, while Harry's busy coping with his worst nightmare – living life as a pseudo-celebrity royal,' he said. 'She needs to protect herself from Harry's chaos in order to achieve what she wants.'
