Meghan Markle pictured solo as expert claims she is “stronger alone”
Meghan Markle has made a high-profile solo appearance in Los Angeles as one PR expert suggested she is currently “stronger alone” while the Royal Family faces renewed scrutiny over Prince Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. The Duchess of Sussex attended the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala without Prince Harry, prompting fresh commentary about the couple’s public strategy and separate professional focus.
The Mirror reported that PR expert Mr Dermot McNamara described Meghan’s attendance at the gala as a “masterclass in brand marketing” and “self-preservation”, arguing that the “levels of toxicity around the Epstein scandal can’t be overstated” and that she will not want her ventures associated with it.
The report said Meghan, 44, wore a strapless gown and vintage earrings at the event, while Prince Harry, 41, stayed away. Mr McNamara told the newspaper that Meghan “was her own entity before” meeting Prince Harry and is more accustomed to “working the hustle”, adding that the couple’s finances depend on maintaining momentum for their projects since stepping back from royal duties.
In recent months, joint appearances by the couple have been limited, following moments that drew attention to their body language, including when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were said to show tension during a public outing at a basketball game. Royal commentator Mr Duncan Larcombe was also quoted as saying the Andrew controversy could be particularly damaging for the Sussexes because their profile is closely tied to royal association.
The Mirror report also referenced recent public heckling of King Charles about Prince Andrew, and said new material in a recent Epstein files release has reignited allegations which Prince Andrew has denied. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not commented on the claims, but the continued focus on the wider Royal Family is likely to keep attention on how they manage their public appearances and business priorities.
