Prince Harry makes first solo trip after permanent 'professional separation' with Meghan Markle is solidified

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Prince Harry makes first solo trip after permanent 'professional separation' with Meghan Markle is solidified

The Duke of Sussex attended the Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference in Shanghai yesterday

The Duke of Sussex is seemingly starting where he means to go on with regards to his and Meghan Markle's supposed 'professional separation', having now travelled solo overseas.

Prince Harry landed in China yesterday (26 May) - which just so happens to be the same day his estranged father King Charles III touches down in Canada for his own state visit.

The trip comes just hours after another major move was announced for the couple, again hinting at Harry and Meghan going their separate ways when it comes to their work-based endeavours.

GB News reported yesterday that the Sussexes were in the midst of building their own 'royal' household structure, having each hired their own chief of staff and a full-fledged team to work for them.

Prince Harry attended a conference in China this week, but without wife Meghan Markle (MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Prince Harry attended a conference in China this week, but without wife Meghan Markle (MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

The move has been viewed as somewhat of a surprise, as it'll see their household ran in a way that resembles that of other members of the monarchy, like King Charles and Camilla, and Prince William and Kate Middleton.

According to the news outlet, Harry has opted for Miranda Barbot to run his brigade. Barbot worked previously as a political and media adviser, and someone who famously assisted with former POTUS Barack Obama's re-election in 2012.

She's said to be helping the Prince with running an incoming commercial venture - though, very little is known about this project so far.

Meghan, meanwhile, is said to have hired the former aid of Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, Sarah Fosmo, to take care of her affairs.

Fosmo is said to have been handed the responsibility of supporting the former Suits actress' new lifestyle brand, As Ever, as well as overseeing the production of the second series of her self-fronted Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.

Communications strategist Meredith Kendall Maines is also said to have been hired to handle the split household's newly-hired 11 staff members, who'll be operating out of both Montecito, California - where the couple now reside - and Harry's home-country, the UK.

The pair are said to be enjoying their 'professional separation' (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
The pair are said to be enjoying their 'professional separation' (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

The move is believed to form part of the pair's plan to 'professionally separate' - a term first used in late last year to describe Harry and Meghan's plans to focus on their own ventures, rather than embarking on everything as a couple.

The first item in the pair's new 'strategy' initially saw the Sussexes take on joint tours in 2024 - to the likes of Colombia and Nigeria - before the second item on the list saw them 'focus on building their individual brands in the States, rather than pursuing power couple status'.

And with that in mind, as we say, Harry landed in China today for this first solo mission abroad since their 'professional separation first hit headlines', attending the Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference in Shanghai.

There, the father-of-two - who recently became a co-founder of Travalyst, a firm that promotes environmentally friendly travel - is said to have given a speech discussing the importance of sustainable holidaying.

Harry is said to have kicked off the conversation by emphasising the travel industry's responsibility to hit its climate change targets before 2030 - including by assisting with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and ensuring that greenhouse gas emissions peak before 2025.

Harry delivered a speech on sustainable travel (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Harry delivered a speech on sustainable travel (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

"Climate change isn’t just an environmental challenge," he began, as per The Sun. "It’s a critical business emergency, costing the global economy $143 billion dollars annually.

"Now is the moment for the industry to reaffirm its commitment to being a force for good. Challenges will undoubtedly rise, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that meaningful change never comes easily."

The Prince continued: "The true measure of our commitment is how we respond when the path becomes difficult.

"We must never give up."

Featured Image Credit: Kirsty O'Connor - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Topics: Royal Family, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, US News, UK News