Prince Harry brushes off Meghan Markle divorce rumours at New York book event as his wife supports their friend Tyler Perry on the red carpet in LA

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’.

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.’

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.

The Duchess of Sussex wowed in a strapless black Oscar de la Renta gown with a sizzling front slit and strappy Celine heels at the The Paley Honors gala in Beverly Hills, held at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

She grinned on the red carpet with friend Tyler Perry, one of the Sussexes’ biggest supporters.

Her husband had been listed on the publicity for the event earlier in the year, but was in New York last night.

When asked by Andrew Ross Sorkin why he was there and not in Los Angeles, Harry joked: ‘Because you invited me, you should have known’.

He was then asked about the focus on their relationship.

Sorkin said: ‘Is that normal for you? The second there’s an article — she’s in California, you’re in New York — they say, “Well, what is happening with these two, right?” Is that a good thing for you, in a way, that there’s so much interest in you’.

Harry then dismissed divorce rumours, and spoke about negative attention on him in the press and on social media.

‘I’ve had a lived experience since I was a kid. I’ve seen stories written about myself that aren’t exactly based on reality. I’ve seen stories about members of my family, friends, strangers, all sorts of people’, he said.

‘And I think when you grow up within that environment, you do find yourself questioning the validity of the information but also what other people are thinking of that as well, and how dangerous it can be over the course of time’.

Harry then reiterated that he and wife have no plans to return to the United Kingdom with Archie and Lilibet, again hinting at security concerns.

He is in an ongoing legal battle with the Home Office in the UK, who pulled his police protection when he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties.

He lost the case but will appeal next year, saying that the case had been ‘troubling and enlightening’.

But is still clear that he ‘never should have had security removed in the first place’.

His appeal is set to take place in April.

The prince said security was a key factor in his and Meghan’s decision to stay put in the US, particularly for his children.

The Sussexes have called Montecito, California home since the summer of 2020 – after they fled the UK and the Royal Family.

Prince Harry told the summit on Wednesday: ‘I very much enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here.’

The Duke added that there are also activities he can do with young Archie, five, and three-year-old Lilibet that he ‘undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK’.

Harry said he was focused on ‘being the best husband and the best dad that I can be’.

During last night’s summit, Harry also spoke at length about children and social media.

He revealed he did not support the move to ban social networks for children, stating that doing so ‘creates all sort of problems’.

Harry said a social media ban for kids didn’t make sense because taking it away could lead to family rows and playground bullying.

He did, however, state that social media companies work with ‘pretty much zero accountability and transparency, and yet are able to make billions upon billions’.

And as the duke was on stage, Meghan sent a message of support to guests at a charity’s carol concert in central London. 

The Duchess wished attendees a Merry Christmas ‘from my family to yours’. 

Earlier yesterday evening, it was revealed that Meghan had sent a message of support to guests at a charity’s carol concert in central London. 

Meghan’s remarks were shared in the programme for UK charity Smart Works’ carol service at St Marylebone Parish Church on Tuesday.

Smart Works helps unemployed women with clothing and coaching to secure employment, and the duchess has been a patron of the charity since 2019.

According to an image of the programme shared by People magazine, Meghan said: ‘As proud patron, it is my pleasure to warmly welcome you all this evening to the Smart Works Carol Concert.

‘Tonight promises to be a truly magical celebration, filled with special guests and performers, and most importantly, the shared spirit of community that defines Smart Works.

‘Together we gather to honour the work and dedication of this remarkable organisation, which continues to empower women across the UK through coaching, dressing and instilling confidence on their journey to employment.

‘Thank you for giving your support by being here in St Marylebone Parish Church, under the beautiful haze of Christmas wreaths and candlelight.’

She continued: ‘In a year where the landscape for women in the workplace has continued to shift, Smart Works has stood as a steadfast source of encouragement. Their service is more than rediscovering employment, it is rediscovering empowerment.

‘As Smart Works continues to uplift the community, I hope you will continue to support them. I hope you enjoy the festivities, and, from my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.’

Other famous faces were involved in the service, with actress and comedian Jennifer Saunders doing a reading and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke performing Hallelujah.

After the service, Burke wrote on her Instagram story: ‘What a special night. Proud to be an ambassador for @smartworkscharity.’

And last night Meghan Markle dazzled during a solo red carpet appearance on Wednesday, as she supported her friend Tyler Perry at The Paley Honors gala in Beverly Hills. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, wowed in a strapless black Oscar de la Renta gown with a sizzling front slit and strappy Celine heels at the event, held at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Sparkling around her neck was an exquisite diamond Logan Hollowell necklace, which she paired with rings by Lorraine Schwartz and Engender, according to Marie Claire. 

Meghan and husband Prince Harry, 40 — who recently said the pair have no plans to return to the United Kingdom — were part of the Tribute Host Committee Chairs for the event, though he was not present on the red carpet. 

Former Suits star Meghan was at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel to cheer on Perry, 55, as the Paley Center for Media honored the visionary director, actor and philanthropist with a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of his career. Perry was also the recipient of the Paley Honors Award at the soirée.

The actress and her husband have a close friendship with the billionaire filmmaker, who is the godfather of their three-year-old daughter, Lilibet. 

Meghan’s raven hair was styled in a relaxed updo, and delicate makeup accentuated her features. She further accessorized her look with a gold Cartier Love bracelet. 

In September, Meghan and Harry — who have reportedly taken a ‘twin track’ approach to public appearances, that will see them doing more things on their own rather than together — attended Perry’s star-studded birthday bash with Oprah. 

Perry — who previously said Meghan treated him ‘like a therapist’ after quitting the royal family — also famously let the pair stay in his Santa Barbara home when they first moved to America. 

Earlier today, it was revealed that Harry has secured the services of his neighbor Katy Perry to sing at the opening night of his Invictus Games, which will take place on February 8, 2025.

The Grammy nominated star will headline the opening of the event for disabled military veterans in Vancouver, Canada.

Katy is by far the biggest star to appear at the bi-annual event attended by Harry and his wife Meghan.

She and her partner actor, British actor Orlando Bloom, are close neighbors of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Montecito, California.

The couple were among the guests invited to the third birthday party for Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet at their mansion in the swanky Californian enclave favored by many A-list stars.

The Invictus Games will be the first major event Harry and Meghan have attended together after reports emerged they were going their separate ways in engagements.

Harry and Meghan, 43, stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US in June that year.  

Since Harry and Meghan resigned from the Royal Family, the couple have spoken about how the Firm could have done more to support Meghan during her time in the UK.

In their Netflix series, Meghan detailed her first meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales – and how she was ‘surprised’ to learn the Royal Family’s formality continued behind closed doors.

She said: ‘Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot. 

‘Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger I didn’t realize that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.

‘I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward facing way of being and then you close the door and think ‘OK we can relax now.’

‘But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me.’

In Prince Harry’s biography Spare, the Duke claimed the Princess of Wales was ‘put on edge’ by Meghan’s arrival and how she would be ‘forced to compete’ with the actress.

In their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed she began experiencing suicidal thoughts while she was pregnant with Archie in 2019 and was not given the support she needed.