Prince Harry attended a party in New York after shutting down the divorce speculation between himself and Meghan Markle.
Harry, 40, made two high-profile appearances in New York on Wednesday, firmly dismissing rumours about his marriage whilst his wife Meghan attended a separate event on the opposite coast.
The Duke of Sussex began his day at The New York Times Dealbook Summit, where he addressed persistent speculation about his relationship with the Duchess of Sussex.
Later in the evening, he attended the opening of an art exhibition at Ki Smith Gallery to raise funds for Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded in 2006.
Prince Harry attends party in New York after shutting down Meghan Markle divorce speculation
Getty / Reuters
The 40-year-old’s solo engagements came as Meghan was spotted 2,500 miles away in Los Angeles, where she attended a gala event with their friend Tyler Perry at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
When asked about the public’s fixation on their separate appearances, Harry directly addressed the speculation at the Dealbook Summit.
“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?’,” he said, laughing.
The duke expressed sympathy for those spreading rumours online, stating: “The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls.”
Prince Harry attending the ‘Friend’: A Survey of Op Art and Minimalism by Ki Smith Gallery
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“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.”
He emphasised his focus remains on “being the best husband and the best dad that I can be.”
The duke also confirmed he has no immediate plans to return to the UK with his family, citing ongoing security concerns.
At the Ki Smith Gallery, Prince Harry viewed works from ‘Friend: A Survey of Op Art and Minimalism’, an exhibition set to open to the public on December 14.
The Duke of Sussex responded to questions from NYT columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin about public fascination with his relationship and why the couple attend separate events
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The duke greeted guests and spoke at the event in support of Sentebale, the charity he helped establish in 2006 following a visit to Lesotho.
He posed for photographs with artists while viewing the collection, which features works by pioneers of minimalism and optical art alongside contemporary artists.
Sentebale, which aims to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of those affected by HIV, holds particular significance for the duke.
The charity focuses on providing access to health and social services in the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, where Harry was inspired to launch the initiative nearly two decades ago.
Meghan Markle and Tyler Perry posed together on the red carpet in LAGetty
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex made a striking appearance at The Paley Honors Gala in Beverly Hills. Meghan wowed in a strapless black Oscar de la Renta gown with a dramatic front slit, paired with strappy Celine heels.
She was photographed smiling on the red carpet alongside Tyler Perry, who has been one of the Sussexes’ most vocal supporters.
When questioned at the Dealbook Summit about why he was in New York instead of Los Angeles, Harry quipped: “Because you invited me, you should have known.”
The couple’s separate appearances come amid reports they are pursuing more individual business and charity interests.