Prince Harry has been basking in the spotlight in recent weeks, with the Duke of Sussex making a series of solo appearances, both in the UK and South Africa

Prince Harry has been making headlines with a series of solo appearances in recent weeks. The Duke Of Sussex made a brief return to the UK before jetting off to South Africa, leaving his wife Meghan Markle and their children back home in California.

It’s not often we see the Duke attending public events without his Duchess by his side, but insiders and experts suggest he seems more self-assured when flying solo, away from the spotlight on Meghan. With his infectious grin and charismatic demeanour, one expert suggests we might be witnessing the return of the old Harry – potentially for the first time since his dramatic departure from the royal family four years ago.

Harry made a trip to South Africa five weeks before William is due to travel ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Sentebale)

“Ever since moving to America, it’s taken Harry a long time to feel comfortable and confident enough to go out on his own and he is really enjoying this new way of life,” a source said. “Before he always used Meghan as a bit of a security blanket as he felt quite lost in his new role, which was completely different to his old royal life and what he had been used to. He was always happy to let Meghan take the limelight as she thrived in big public events and he would take her lead.”

The source believes, “He did feel overshadowed at times but he was happy for that while he adjusted to a whole new way of life.”

Echoing these thoughts, royal expert Duncan Larcombe noted that Harry typically takes a ‘back seat’ when he’s out with Meghan. “We know that Harry is very defensive of Meghan and we’ve seen him on some jobs where he hasn’t looked his normal self when he’s with her,” he said.

Harry is poised to be in South Africa ahead of a major event – Prince William’s Earthshot Prize awards due to take place in Cape Town on November 6, 2024. The timing suggests the brothers could be visiting the nation within weeks of each other.

However, prior to heading to South Africa, Harry had another engagement – attending the WellChild Awards solo in London. Duncan noted this as a standout moment for Harry’s charm, saying: “We saw him being brilliant with children and being really charming”.

Harry’s short stopover in London comes after he openly expressed concerns earlier this year about the safety of bringing his wife Meghan and their kids, Archie and Lilibet, back to the UK post their royal duties conclusion and move to America, resulting in the loss of their Royal protection service.

A worrisome Harry opened up to ITV : “It’s still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor… whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”

Despite the reasons behind Meghan’s absence from Harry’s recent visits, this might very well be offering the public a sneak peek at Harry’s refined professional persona, or as Duncan suggests, a return to his roots.

“We’ve seen a glimpse at the old Prince Harry,” he said. “When Harry was doing solo jobs before he met Meghan he was by far the best at it. William is good but Harry had that X Factor that I don’t think many people have had over the years. We don’t see even glimpses of that when he’s with Meghan working.”

Harry and Meghan have been working on solo projects as well as joint ventures ( 
Image:
Archewell Foundation via Getty Images)

The return to solo engagements has seemingly put Prince Harry back in his element, with recent weeks showering him with praise for his charismatic solo appearances, and observers can’t help but notice the joy radiating from him during these events.

A source revealed, “It was tough at first going away without Meghan but he’s really coming into his own and he wants to do more solo events and travelling. He feels a lot more relaxed and like his old self and it’s showing to everyone around him.”

While Harry and Meghan are still a professional unit, they seem to be carving out their individual paths, each delving into new Netflix projects. Meghan is set to take the lead on a show celebrating culinary arts, gardening, hosting, and friendships, while Harry explores the competitive world of professional polo, aligning with his personal interests.

Despite opinions that Harry shines brightest alone and their current separate ventures, royal commentator Duncan believes there’s room for Meghan’s involvement down the line. “Ultimately, they do operate as a power couple and have done things together successfully.”

The source concludes that this shift towards individual pursuits could be a positive development for the Sussexes, who have been united in matrimony for half a dozen years.

“Everyone always says Harry has Diana’s charm and that she would be so proud of him and the work he’s been doing lately,” they expressed. “He realises now he doesn’t need Meghan like he used to and that it’s healthy for them to not do everything together.”