Why Meghan Markle just 'professionally separated' from Prince Harry

Following the release of As Ever's first ever festive collection, inside sources say the Duchess of Sussex is 'very consciously' professionally separating herself from her husband, Prince Harry.

Reports that the royal couple were going their own ways, in one respect, first emerged last year, after the pair suddenly stopped attending public events together, prompting rumours of a relationship rift.

As well as visiting Angola for a HALO Trust meeting to raise awareness of landmine safety classes, Harry, 41, focused his attention on the 2025 Invictus Awards, and made a personal donation of about £1.1 million to BBC Children in Need, focusing on youth-violence prevention.

Meghan, meanwhile, has seemingly spent the last year forging herself a reputation as a lifestyle guru.

Not only did the 44-year-old record an entire Netflix series, With Love, Meghan - the second series of which is set for release in the coming weeks - but she also relaunched her social media profile after a lengthy break.

On top of this, the mother-of-two - who shares seven-year-old son Archie and four-year-old daughter Lilibet with the British royal - set up her own homeware and grocery brand, As Ever, issuing a first look at her seasonal specials this week.

In light of her latest range, a number of royal experts and secret sources have spoken to press about Meghan's alleged aims, including one who told Page Six this week that the Duchess is attempting to make a name for herself in strategic branding.

"Meghan is opening herself to the universe of brands and marketing, signalling to the world, 'I’m open for business and ready to make money in the lifestyle sector'," they explained of her most recent one-man endeavour.

"[She wants to] emulate Gwyneth. She doesn’t necessarily need TV shows and the criticism that comes with them."

Meghan Markle has been focusing on her own businesses of late (Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Fortune Media)

In agreement that this all forms part of her professional separation from Harry, PR expert Mark Borkowski added that the former Suits actress is 'no longer half of a royal duo'.

"She’s re-emerging as a solo brand: global, aspirational and strategically aloof," he explained. "The royal chapter was about proximity to power. This one’s about reclaiming it."

Of the message Meghan is supposedly striving to convey, Borkowski continued: "The Vogue salons, the couture cameos, the soft-focus humanitarianism - all signals that she’s positioning herself in the rarefied Gwyneth [Paltrow] and [Victoria] Beckham tier of conscious luxury."

Also in agreement is Nick Ede, a culture guru who told the publication that the Duchess is in 'pure celebrity mode'.

Prince Harry is said to be thrilled for his wife (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for ABA)

"[Meghan] is establishing a presence that will lead to partnerships and deals," Ede continued. "Someone who [can be] courted by brands. She’s establishing herself with a crowd she wants to be a part of."

Asked how Harry feels about the publicity his wife is receiving all on her own, an insider gushed of the Prince: "He always thinks she’s making the right moves. It’s what she successfully did before him, and he believes in the saying, 'Happy wife, happy life'.

"He’s happy not to be involved in that world."