Prince Harry’s decision to travel alone to New York to meet royals and celebrities ahead of a solo trip to Britain shows he is determined to “seek out” new opportunities and “assert himself” after turning 40, insiders told MailOnline today.
The Duke of Sussex will be away from Montecito for the next eight days and on Saturday attended a charity event in California organised by Kevin Costner, without his American wife.
Last night he attended a dinner organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and warmly greeted Queen Mathilde of Belgium upon arrival.
On his trip to New York this week, he will also be supporting charities and pet companies including African Parks, The HALO Trust, The Diana Award and Travalyst. And this weekend he will fly to London for his annual visit to support WellChild at its awards ceremony – again without his wife.
He is said to have planned a boys-only weekend with friends to celebrate his 40th birthday this month, but was with a smiling Meghan leaving a “double birthday” event, held for her friend Tyler Perry, the night before the Prince’s big day.
Biographer Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan In Their Own Words, said: ‘Harry sometimes feels like a spare part and often seems unhappy when out with Meghan at events in California. I think he’s reached a point where he wants more for himself. He’s turned 40 and must be wondering what the future holds.
Prince Harry greets Queen Mathilde of Belgium during a high-level dinner on “Violence against children and its impact on mental health” in New York City with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in the background.
Prince Harry presents an award to helicopter pilot and lifeguard Loren Courtney on Saturday
Prince Harry and a smiling Meghan Markle are seen leaving a “double birthday” event, held for their friend Tyler Perry, the night before the Prince’s 40th birthday earlier this month.
‘I think he’s desperate to find new meaning in his life and that seems to involve becoming more independent.
‘He has a few days in New York and then heads to London for the WellChild event he has been involved with for years.
‘It’s clear that he wants to find some causes that he can get involved in and give some purpose to his life.
‘Meghan doesn’t want to come back to this country, so he’ll have to fly alone.’
Harry has reportedly been reaching out to some of his old friends ahead of his visit to the UK.
“I’m sure he’s missing some friends to go out and have a beer with and really relax. The more he does things on his own and takes on new projects, the more likely he is to heal himself and eventually overcome some of the divisions with his family, but it’s going to be a long road,” Dampier said.
Royal expert and investigative journalist Tom Bower has said Harry’s upcoming week away from home shows he is trying to “assert himself” on his own.
He said: ‘It’s not just Harry’s repeated solo events that suggest a change in his lifestyle and strategy to assert himself, particularly in Britain.’
Harry chats with singer Richard Marx
Hours before attending Tyler’s party, Meghan was spotted at the George Zajfen Tennis Tournament in Los Angeles, where she sported clothes and jewelry worth more than $40,000.
Without Meghan at his side last night, Harry was seen greeting Queen Mathilde of Belgium, actor Forest Whitaker, several UN agency heads and other dignitaries at an event to honour survivors of child violence.
They are all in New York for the UN General Assembly, which begins Monday morning in Manhattan.
Officials from countries including Sweden, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Georgia, Canada, Iceland and Brazil, as well as survivors of child abuse, were also present to discuss this important topic.
The meeting comes a day after Harry attended Kevin Costner’s charity concert solo at his beachfront estate across the country in California while Meghan was said to be “ill”.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams says Harry is looking for new roles.
“What is his real role now? His achievements are undoubtedly the Invictus Games and his patronages of Wellchild, for which he will soon make a solo trip to Britain, and Sentebale, in Lesotho. All of these were operational before he married Meghan,” he said.
He will attend a series of events in New York, also on his own. This is clearly an attempt to raise his profile.
‘There are his solo trips to Britain and a number of rumours that he would like to spend more time there and might even be interested in some royal duties. These rumours are undoubtedly exaggerated, but they highlight his increasingly awkward situation.
“He has a deep estrangement from his family. His appearances in New York may give him a little push.”
Harry is seen with World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with actor Whitaker and Queen Mathilde.
The event was organised by the WHO and was attended by politicians including Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who appears alongside Harry in the photo. Meghan was notably absent after missing a party at actor Kevin Costner’s house due to being “sick” the day before.
Harry will be in New York this week and in London next Monday.
“Violence takes many forms, both physical and psychological, and each leaves a lasting impact on those who experience it,” event host Will Poulter told attendees at last night’s event.
‘With one billion children worldwide suffering from such violence, the statistics are staggering, but they represent real lives.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these children are protected.”
Also present were high-profile figures including Whitaker and Shudu Musida, who, along with survivors, helped draft an open letter last week demanding urgent action from world leaders to end violence against children.
This comes ahead of the first Global Ministerial Conference to End Violence against Children, which will take place in Colombia in November.
Signatories of the letter include Harry, Mathilde and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who was seen having a lengthy conversation with the Duke of Sussex and the actor during the event.
The Belgian royal also addressed the crowd, urging more to be done to help detained children who face corporal punishment, bullying, online violence and sexual abuse.
Other forms of violence reported by the group include gang violence, child marriage and child labour.
Forrest Whittaker was also in attendance and is seen here chatting with Prime Minister De Croo and the Duke of Sussex.
The Belgian royals posed alongside the star of The Last King of Scotland at the star-studded event, which takes place just hours before delegates arrive in Midtown Manhattan on Monday for the first day of the UN General Assembly.
The Belgian royal also addressed the crowd, urging more to be done for detained children who face corporal punishment, bullying, online violence and sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, Meghan was nowhere to be seen, after defending efforts designed to stop online bullying earlier this summer.
In August, the Duchess was seen lovingly clutching her husband’s knee on the set of CBS News Sunday Morning, as she detailed how She struggled with suicidal thoughts due to the abuse she received as a royal.
She told host Jane Pauley she hopes her candor will help young people around the world coping with similar feelings, while calling on her spouse for support.
“When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I think part of our healing journey – certainly part of mine – is being able to be really open about it,” Markle said as Harry, 39, looked on.
‘I’ve really scratched the surface of my experience, but I don’t think I’d ever want anyone else to feel that way.
“And I would never want anyone else to make those kinds of plans,” he added.
“And I would never want anyone else to be disbelieved.”
A source told the Mirror she missed Costner’s role at the Santa Barbara house because “she was ill and couldn’t attend.”
A-list personalities such as Jeff Bridges, Rob Lowe and Pink were in attendance.