Sussexes’ ‘twin track’ approach in action: Harry and Meghan will attend events on opposite sides of the US next week – following a string of solo engagements in recent months

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to attend events on opposite sides of the United States next week – as the couple continue their ‘twin track’ approach to public appearances.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, will appear at The New York Times‘ DealBook conference in New York next Wednesday, a spokesperson told People. 

That evening, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, will reportedly attend the Paley Honors Fall Gala in Los Angeles.

The former Suits actress is expected to present The Paley Honors Award to her friend Tyler Perry, who famously allowed the Duke and Duchess to stay in his $18m Los Angeles mansion after they quit their royal duties in 2020. 

According to People, both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were on the hosting committee for the event – but Prince Harry will not be present on the night.

The couple’s separate appearances are part of a ‘twin track approach’ that will see them doing more things on their own rather than together, as they pursue their own passions, a friend previously told the US publication.

In November 2021, Meghan made an appearance at the same conference Prince Harry will take part in next week during a joint trip to New York City with the Duke of Sussex.

Following this, the couple went on to attend the Intrepid Museum’s Salute to Freedom Gala on Veteran’s Day, which Netflix filmed for their bombshell docu-series. 

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Kadi Lee, Serge Normant at the Highbrow Hippie Launch Party held at Gjelina last week

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, poses for a photo with elementary school students during the Invictus Games 2025 School Program Launch Event at Seaforth Armoury on November 18, 2024

Continuing their trend of separate engagements, the Duchess supported her friend Kadi Lee at the launch of her new haircare range (in which Meghan has invested) on a last week. Three days later, Harry crossed the border into Vancouver to represent his Invictus project. 

Harry – who was in the city to promote the Invictus Games – was grinning from ear-to-ear as he stood pitchside and waved at fans before the Toronto Argonauts took on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. 

Elsewhere, Meghan was seen partying without her husband in Los Angeles on Thursday at the celeb-approved restaurant Gjelina.

She supported the launch of her friend and A-lister hairdresser Kadi Lee’s new Highbrow Hippie hair wellness range. The former senior working royal is an investor in Lee’s new collection and was snapped with her pals Lee and Myka Harris in Venice, California.

These solo visits have meant that since then, the couple – who share two children together Lilibet, three, and Archie, five – have only been seen together once in the past three months. 

On 7 November, Harry and Meghan – who both donned poppies ahead of Remembrance Day – shared a video message about online violence against children, a cause that is deeply important to them.

It was played at the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia, as the Duke and Duchess called for greater protections for ‘the most vulnerable in our world’ against the threat of digital violence and harm. 

After their two-minute speech, they shared a sweet moment as Harry affectionately wrapped his arm around Meghan. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the Annual Salute To Freedom Gala in New York (pictured) after the Duchess appeared at The New York Times’ DealBook conference in 2021. Prince Harry is set to appear at the conference on his own next week

Pictured: Meghan Markle on The Ellen Show in November 2021 – after appearing at The New York Times’ DealBook conference

Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with Tyler Perry in the garden of his Los Angeles home in their Netflix docu-series

Analysing the video, body language expert Judi James told MailOnline: ‘Harry was very much the alpha prince and Meghan was taking her lead from him as she learned the ropes.

‘Meghan looks less assertive here and she appears to be copying and mirroring her husband, taking her cues from him. 

Though the couple have been taking on more solo appearances in recent months, they have certainly made an impact together as well; delighting fans across Colombia during their tour of the South American nation in August.

However, the pair seem to be leaving a lasting impression during events on their own too, as part of the ‘twin track’ approach.

On October 5, Meghan went to the LA Children’s Hospital’s glamorous gala without her husband.

Prince Harry waves to the crowd during a jersey presentation prior to the start of the 2024 Grey Cup yesterday

Meghan Markle danced with her friends to a gospel choir at a glamorous launch party in Los Angeles last week – without her husband Prince Harry

She donned a reworked version of the scarlet Carolina Herrera gown, which she wore to the Veterans Day gala in New York City with Prince Harry in 2021.

The Duchess was joined on the carpet by Kelly McKee Zajfen, the co-founder for the Alliance of Moms, an LA ‘community of philanthropists who support pregnant and parenting teens in LA’s foster care system.’

Meghan greeted the young fans before preparing for a star-studded night featuring a performance by Demi Lovato and appearances by presenters Kaley Cuoco, Jamie Lee Curtis and Colin Hanks.

But body language expert Judi James told FEMAIL that the Duchess appeared nervous without Harry during her red carpet appearance. 

‘For a confident woman who is used to cameras and red carpets she acts grateful to see and join her friend here. The body language ritual that she follows seems to be deliberate signalling of her current state as Harry is off on his solo tour,’ she said.

‘Meghan performs signals of coyness and even shyness plus a subliminal desire to have someone take over the lead from Harry, as though she is somehow lost without him on the red carpet or wanting to suggest she is feeling more vulnerable and girlishly playful than usual.’

Harry and Meghan were seen sporting poppies in November as they released a video message in their first joint appearance in three months 

Meghan attended the star-studded gala for LA Children’s Hospital without Harry on October 5 

Judi also believed Meghan gave the gown a complete ‘Hollywood’ makeover, adding that she looks more like a starlet than the wife of Prince – hinting at their need to fit in with A-listers. 

A couple of days before the gala on October 2, Meghan visited charity Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara to help with a new digital-wellness programme called Social Media U.

Girls Inc. partnered up with #HalfTheStory – an organisation dedicated to improving the next generation’s relationship with technology – to launch the programme across the States. 

Larissa May, the founder of #HalfTheStory, took part in the event alongside the Duchess and Girls Inc. CEO Stephanie J. Hull as they celebrated the collaboration. 

‘We did an activity where we talked through a bunch of scenarios, and Meghan talked about being one of the most bullied people in the world,’ May told Vanity Fair.

‘We had girls wave these little emoji signs and talk about how each one of these scenarios would have impacted them emotionally.’

Prince Harry travelled to Africa between 1 and 4 October (pictured in Johannesburg on 3 October) 

Prince Harry was snapped visiting Lesotho on October 2 on his solo visit 

During when Harry was in Lesotho, Meghan went to a Girls Inc. event in Santa Barbara alone 

During this time, Prince Harry was across the globe on a solo trip to Johannesburg in South Africa to represent Sentebale, a youth HIV charity he co-founded.

The Duke of Sussex co-founded the youth charity Sentebale there in 2006 in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana, and was pictured with members of the local community. 

He then paid a courtesy visit to Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane and went on a trip to the tiny mountain kingdom.

At the end of September, he also travelled to London for the WellChild Awards, which recognises some of Britain’s bravest children.

He was not thought to have met up with the Prince of Wales during his trip to his home city as their rift continues. 

Harry used his keynote speech to hail the ‘little legends’ who were being recognised at the ceremony. 

But the Duke came away with some prizes of his own from one of the winners.

Harry flew back to his home city – London – at the end of September for the annual WellChild Awards without his wife 

He was given four glass hearts by inspiring youngster Scarlett Cripps – one for himself, and one each for wife Meghan Markle and children Archie and Lilibet – so he can keep them close during his travels. 

At the start of September, Meghan was snapped attending Oprah Winfrey’s book club at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, located just miles from where she lives in Montecito.

Insiders told People that the independent trips reflect a new shift in direction in the couple’s public lives.

‘The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals – not just as a couple. The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her entrepreneurial track,’ a friend of the Sussexes said.

Tyler Perry, whom Meghan will honour at next week’s gala, appeared in the couple’s bombshell Netflix series in December 2022.

The actor and filmmaker, 55, explained how he had never met the royal couple before he offered to let them stay in his mansion in LA.

He said: ‘They just wanted to be free. They wanted to be free to love and be happy. I applauded that.’

Gushing about her A-Lister friend, Meghan added: ‘It gave us a chance to create that home that we always wanted.’

Tyler previously explained why he offered help to the couple, insisting that it was a ‘very difficult time for them’ and that he wanted to ‘support them’ in any way possible.

In the couple’s Netflix series, the actor and filmmaker, 55, explained how he had never met the royal couple before he offered to let them stay in his mansion in LA

Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their six-part Netflix docu-series Meghan & Harry, which was released in December 2022

The filmmaker added that he was inspired by Harry and Meghan’s love, telling the Today show, ‘What I know about the two of them – and I wish the world knew – how much these two people love each other.

‘They found each other, out of all these odds against them finding each other, they found each other.

‘The love they have is really, really moving and I wanted to do anything I could to support them.’

He added of Meghan and Harry’s relationship: ‘If I don’t have that, what she and Harry have, I don’t want it. That’s really amazing.’

During an interview with The Cut, Meghan, 41, spoke out about her bond with Tyler, explaining that he got in touch with her after she first wed Harry, 38, in 2018.

She explained that he told her that he was praying for her, and that he ‘understood’ the intense pressure she was under.

According to Meghan, Tyler also told her that if ever needed advice, she could reach out to him – so she did.

She soon began to open up to him about her struggles and the two grew close, despite them never even meeting in person.

‘Sometimes, you can tell your life story to a stranger on a plane as opposed to some of the people that are closest to you,’ she told The Cut.

According to the outlet, Tyler offering his home to the pair ‘became, in many ways, the reason that Meghan and Harry started their new life in Southern California.’

The eight bedroom Tuscan-style villa, which Tyler purchased in 2004 for $4.3 million, sits on 22 acres of land and comes with 24,000-square-feet of living space.