Prince Harry has used a New York media summit to challenge persistent online rumours that his marriage to Meghan Markle is on the rocks after six years.
The Duke of Sussex was one of the star guests at the annual DealBook Summit live where he let rip at ‘trolls’, insisting he feels ‘sorry’ for them because they ‘hope’ they will split up.
He also used the event, also attended by Jeff Bezos and Bill Clinton, to criticise Britain’s legal system, Government, media and being in the public eye, declaring the attention was ‘definitely not a good thing’.
And Harry revealed he and wife have no plans to return to the UK – with their children at the heart of the decision – because Archie, five, and Lilibet, three can do things in America that they ‘undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK’.
With his wife Meghan 2,500 miles away at a gala event in Los Angeles with friend Tyler Perry, Harry was asked by the event’s founder Andrew Ross Sorkin about the public’s fixation on their relationship.
‘They’re fascinated Meghan is in California right now, and you’re here. There are articles left and right about: ‘Why are you making, doing independent events? Why aren’t you doing them together?’
The Duke of Sussex then dismissed claims that he and Meghan are struggling.
‘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?’,’ Harry said laughing.
‘It’s hard to keep up with, but that’s why you just sort of ignore it. The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls.
‘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.’
Prince Harry quashed rumours online that he and Meghan have ‘apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times’, blaming trolls.
The couple, last pictured together on Armistice Day in November, have done an increasing amount of engagements separately in recent months.
Harry also used the appearance to set out where he stands on a number of issues:
Harry said he was focused on ‘being the best husband and the best dad that I can be’;
The Duke of Sussex said he has no plans to bring his wife and children to the UK because he believes they are not safe. On his legal row with the Home Office in the wake of Megxit he said: ‘I never should have had security removed in the first place’;
Harry spoke of growing up in the storm of his parents’ relationship and his mother’s tragic death. He said the attention on him then, and now, was ‘definitely not a good thing’;
Exiled royal criticised social media companies, which have ‘pretty much zero accountability and transparency, and yet are able to make billions upon billions’ – but did not back a ban for children, claiming it ‘creates all sort of problems’;
Harry and Meghan last night again chose to carry out events separately, amid repeated reports of a ‘professional separation’ to pursue more of their own personal business and charity passions.
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