MEGHAN Markle has made a surprise appearance without Prince Harry in Los Angeles - amid speculation the couple live "separate lives" and are "drifting apart".
The Duchess of Sussex wore a plunging red Carolina Herrera gown to a LA Children's Hospital gala last night.
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Meghan, 43, previously wore the gown at a gala for veterans with Harry in New York in 2021.
At the bash last night Meghan was seen greeting young fans and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Demi Lovato and Kaley Cuoco.
It comes after royal experts told The Sun Meghan and Harry are "going their own ways" and increasingly live "separate lives".
Speaking on our first ever Royal Exclusive Live show, Arthur Edwards and Jennie Bond lifted the lid on the couple's recent time apart.
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Sun legend Arthur revealed the pair are "doing things separately now" after failing to be spotted together in three weeks.
Veteran royal correspondent Jennie said: "Meghanis not popular. She doesn't want to come back and they are going their own ways, to some extent".
The pair spoke on our first Royal Exclusive Live show, which you can watch in the player above andon our YouTube channel.
The event was hosted on Friday in front of a live audience of more than 100 special guests.
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Meghan Markle & Prince Harry are going separate ways - she's NOT popular | Royal Exclusive Live
Mr Edwards said: “I don’t think Meghan can come here much. I don’t think people think too much of her.
“I think she’s struggling in popularity in the UK and I think they seem to be doing things separately now.
"She’s got her programme and he’s got his. He comes into Britain now with no fuss.
"He’s come for the Invictus Games, in and out with no fuss, he came for his uncle’s funeral, no fuss."
Jennie added: “The point is he doesn’t want to come back into the Royal Family, I think.
"He regarded it as a trap. He still thinks his father and his brother are trapped and he’s finding his own way.
"All credit to him. I think Meghan has her own independent style and way of life.
"Yes, it’s not in tune with the people in the UK. She’s not popular and I don’t think she wants to come back.
"Therefore they are going their own ways, to an extent. But I hope and believe that Harry is very happy in his life."
'MOPING AROUND'
This comes after it was revealed Harry spent the night of his milestone40th birthday without Meghanas rumours continue to swirl.
Theduke went on a hiking trip with pals to celebrate his big day - and failed to mention his wife, 43, in his birthday thanks message.
Although sources close to the couple insist it wasMeghanwho organised the lads’ trip, experts warned it could bea key sign things are not so rosy.
Their separate plans, followed byHarry's solo tripsacross the past few weeks, has sparked speculation surrounding their relationship.
It was also reported Meghanditched a charity eventat the last minute in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband because she was “sick”.
And, sources claim, forperiodsearlier this year, she was rarely staying attheir luxury Montecito pad.
Meanwhile, Harry was said to be “moping around” on his own at a local cafe.
Previous claims last year that Meghan and Harry spent extended spells apart were denied by those close to the couple.
It was said that, like any other couple, they have disagreements but remained strong.
TRIPPING UP
It comes asHarrybeamed from ear to ear in photos taken on his latesttrip to his beloved Africa.
But missing from the snaps of the duke with children and long-time friends at hischaritySentebale in Lesotho was his wife.
TheDuchess of Sussexpreviously accompanied him to the continent, including in May this year.
In fact the couple have travelled together on two major overseas engagements this year.
But this prompted a source close to Harry and Meghan to address the speculation.
The Sussexes’ confidante insisted: “It is normal for couples to not do everything together.”
The duke attended ata string of events in New Yorkunaccompanied by his wife.
He appeared on his own at an event for the Halo Trust - a landmine charity which was close to Di's heart.
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MEGHAN Markle was also branded a 'diva' on the show, while Prince Harry was dubbed 'deplorable' for his book Spare.
Jennie Bond blasted: "He was a very silly boy to write Spare, it was deplorable and stupid. He’s done the blood letting, now we want to move on."
Meanwhile the pair said Meghan couldn't hack royal life in the same way Princess Kate can - and revealed she was 'difficult' with the media.
Sun legend Arthur also regaled memories of his royal tours with Charles and Diana - and implied Harry and Meghan may be putting on a show like they did before their marriage crumbled.
During the hour-long event, the royal experts also discussed the future of a slimmed-down monarchy, shared tales of behind-the-scenes encounters with key royals and opened up about Kate and Charles' cancer battles.
You can watch the full Royal Exclusive Live show in the player above and on our YouTube channel.
Harry was also pictured without Meg during a high-level dinner organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in theBig Appleon Sunday.
Their separate appearances also included hissurprise TV stint and tour of a haunted mazeon the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
And the dad-of-two wassnapped outside and spent an hour inside a tattoo shopin Manhattan.
On Monday he jetted to the UK capital on his lonesome and did not see his father the King, or have any contact with his brother,Prince William.
Instead his time was taken up byhonouring seriously ill youngsters at the WellChild Awards in London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel.
One of those attending said: “He looked like the old Harry we knew and loved.
"He always came alive at events like this, but lately he has seemed quite glum.
“He was on good form, full ofenergyand seemed quite happy to be on his own.”
WILTING ORCHARD
Meanwhile, Meghan's personal projects have also swirled in drama, from herpromise of a cooking showabout friendship to her brand American Orchard Riviera.
The lifestyle company suffered a fresh blow earlier this month.
Since announcing the project, the former Suits actress is yet to roll out anything other than jams and dog biscuits - products that have only beengifted to her A-lister palsso far.
Meghan has also faced multiple hurdles in her launch, including'struggling' to secure a CEO, her team filling in the official forms incorrectly, and failing to send enough cash.
These issues came in addition to a bitterdispute over exclusive rightsto the name American Riviera Orchard.
However, as a couple, the Duke and Duchess have put on a united front amid the roll out of their latest charity initiative -The Parents Network.
It aims to support families who have lost their children to online harm.
Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, told The Sun: “Meghan's minimalist jewellery choices complement her sleek red dress.
“More than ever, she uses the simplicity of her jewellery to accentuate and elevate her natural beauty.
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“Her gold bangle stands out in the photos as the definition of her quiet elegance at the event.
“The most significant jewel in Meghan's outfit, though, is her gorgeous engagement ring with a central stone acquired by Harry from Botswana and flanked by two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana's collection.”
Prince Harry’s tattoo shop visit without Meghan is major hint couple could have separate plans for future, warns expert
By Summer Raemason
PRINCE Harry's tattoo shop visit and upcoming solo trip without Meghan is a major hint the couple could have separate future plans, claimed an expert.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, was spottedat a tattoo parlourin the Lower East Side of Manhattan and stayed for over an hour yesterday.
It was also revealed Harry will bejetting to Lesotho and South Africaearly next month withoutMeghan Markle.
This comes after the duke attended ata string of events in New Yorkunaccompanied by his wife, who stayed behind in Montecito, California.
Their separate appearances, including Harry'ssurprise TV stint and tour of a haunted mazeon the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, has sparked rampant speculation regardingtheir future together.
Royal expert Hugo Vickers hailed the upcoming Lesotho and South Africa trips.
He toldThe Sun: "I rather commend what he's doing with this, because this is more outgoing.
"It's like when he does things with theInvictus Gamesand things like that.
"But there seems to be a pattern forming, even in these last few days, that he is going out on his own and doing things."
The expert suggested there could be multiple reasons for the divide.
"One could be that, you know. He does indeed wish to establish himself more as the old Harry," he said.
"It could be quite simply that Meghan Markle has responsibilities withher young children, and therefore feels she has to stay at home with them.
But he added: "There is a separation of, you know, of their different engagements, and that he's going to be going more solo, in which case watch this space."
Meghan and Harry have put on a largely inseparable front sincequitting the UKand moving to the States in 2020.
But Mr Vickers warned the duke may have grown tired of Meg's presence - and the negativity it attracts.
"It always seems to me that when she's around she's dictating the narrative, and that he kind of is very compliant and just goes along," he said.
"A lot of the things that he says publicly I have always suspected are dictated by her. So I do wonder a little bit whether he isn't trying to establish himself more in his own right."
However, the expert hinted Meghan could still be behind everything.
He said: "It could be that she commends this idea because it gives him more of a a profile and sort of ups his game, and therefore, when they go out together in public, they're more valuable."
On the future of Harry and Meghan's relationship, Mr Vickers added "personally think it's quite likely to not end too well for [Harry]".
Regarding rumours swirling their marriage, the expert suggested they may stay together - to preserve their image.
"It is possible that they need to keep stay together to keeptheir brand," he said.
