Prince Harry addressed months of intense speculation about the state of his marriage to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on a panel in the US this week, saying it was “definitely not a good thing”.
The Duke of Sussex made the remarks during an appearance at The New York Times 2024 DealBook Summit on Wednesday night, following a series of solo appearances, This was reported by People magazine.
WATCH ABOVE: Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, give a rare interview.
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Harry appeared at the event for a wide-ranging conversation about disinformation and ways to make the digital world safer with Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Coincidentally, on the day of the panel discussion in New York, Meghan walked the red carpet at The Paley Honors Fall Gala in Beverly Hills in support of their boyfriend Tyler Perry, Vanity Fair reported.
The couple’s recent individual public engagements have fueled persistent rumors of trouble in their six-year marriage, an issue Sorkin touched on in his conversation with Harry.
“There are articles left and right about, you know, ‘Why do you, do indie events?’ Why don’t you do them together?” Sorkin noted.
“That’s definitely not a good thing,” Harry said.
“We’ve probably bought or moved a house 10, 12 times. Apparently we’ve also been divorced maybe 10, 12 times. So it’s just like ‘what?’
“It’s hard to keep up, but so you just kind of ignore it. The people I feel sorry for the most are the trolls.
“Their hopes just build and build and it’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,’ and then it doesn’t happen.” So I feel sorry for them. Honestly, yes.
He then apologized for dragging Sorkin into the media maelstrom.
“I have no doubt that this interview will be spun or twisted in some way against me and perhaps you yourself will be mercilessly trolled.
“I can only apologize for that, but you invited me, so it’s not my fault.”
Harry, who has long advocated for safer online practices, also addressed the potential harm of persistent internet rumours.
“I have experience since I was a child. I’ve seen stories written about myself that aren’t exactly based on reality. I’ve seen stories about my family members, friends, strangers, all kinds of people,” he said.
“When you grow up in that environment, you find yourself questioning the validity of the information, but also what other people think about it and how dangerous it can be over time.”
Speculation has dogged the couple recently as they have been making appearances at various events.
Recent examples include Meghan attending the launch of her friends Kadi Lee and Myka Harris’ new haircare line, while Harry announced plans to host a charity event on December 10.
In October, Meghan walked the red carpet solo at the Children’s Hospital LA Gala, days after Harry made a solo appearance at the WellChild Awards in London.
However, the pair have come together for a rare interview about cyber abuse, insisting parents should be the ‘first responders’ to their children in August 2024.
In the interview on CBS’s Sunday Morning, Sussex reflected on Prince Archie, 5, and Lilybeth, 3.
“Our children are small – they are three and five. They’re amazing,” Megan said with a smile.
“But all you want to do as parents is protect them.
“So as we see what’s happening online, we know there’s a lot of work to be done there, and we’re happy to be a part of changing it forever.”
Journalist Jane Polley responded that as a parent, “You hope that when your kids ask for help, someone is, you know, there to give it.”
Harry added, “If you know how to help.”
“At this point, we’ve reached the stage where every parent has to be the first responder,” he continued.
“Even the best first responders in the world would not be able to recognize the signs of a possible suicide. That’s the terrifying part of it all,” Harry said.
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For more information about depression, contact outsideblue on 1300 224 636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
