Real reason Meghan Markle won't join Prince Harry at next major appearance amid 'professional separation'

After news of their 'professional separation' hit headlines last week, it has been reported that Meghan Markle will likely not be joining Prince Harry at his major public appearance in the UK.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, is expected to appear in London's High Court in January 2025, where he'll take on News Group Newspapers - publishers of The Sun - in a legal battle, with his wife reportedly planning on remaining in California with their two children.

Prince Harry is set to return to the UK next month (John Nacion/Getty Images)

Speculation has been rife over the couple's relationship status since they returned home from a joint charity trip to Colombia in August.

In the months that followed saw both Meghan and Harry embarking into the public sphere on countless occasions, though always without the other.

While Meghan was seen enjoying a night out with friends in Los Angeles, Harry recently appeared at a Canadian Football event in Vancouver without his wife - despite her previously living there while filming Suits.

And now reports claim that Meghan will likely not travel across the pond to join Harry in court next month, and will remain in their Montecito home with son Archie, five, and daughter Lilibet, three.

Meghan, 43, hasn't travelled to the UK since the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth in September 2022.

"This will be very high-profile and the chances are he (Harry) will appear as he appeared at the last case and that would be accompanied by enormous publicity," royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News.

Meghan has enjoyed several recent outings without her husband (Gregg DeGuire/WWD via Getty Images)

"I don't think Meghan will appear, there are several reasons why she will not. She did not before and tactically from their point of view it would make no sense."

He added: "She will not give evidence, this case is something that he is pursuing."

Apparently, however, the Duke and Duchess' absence from one another's public engagements is nothing for fans to be concerned about, with another royal commentator claiming separate professional endeavours bare no reflection on the state of their marriage.

"Harry and Meghan have consistently pursued solo ventures in connection with their individual interests," the anonymous source told Hello! last week. "But remain deeply committed to their joint efforts through Archewell [their joint charity, formed in 2020].

"Together they have exciting projects in the pipeline, all driving forward their shared mission for positive global impact."

And after news broke of this supposed 'professional separation', public relations pro Mark Borkowski went on to offer his explanation about what this actually means for the couple.

The couple's decision to 'professionally separate' has been praised by several royal experts (Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images)

Borkowski described it as a wise move, believing both Meghan and Harry need to respectively focus their attention on 'winning the public back over', believing a huge proportion wouldn't have been pleased when they surrendered their Royal duties in 2020.

"They had to change the narrative," he told The Telegraph. "They need a venture that deflects from the failures.

"The charity aspect impresses upon everybody that he [Harry] does have value beyond the controversial stuff.

"It has the effect of separating them from the bad press and the failed content ideas. The punters still have time for Harry."

Tyla has contacted Meghan Markle's representatives for comment.