A Times assistant editor says the Sussexes’ two-word reply about Meghan joining Harry at a Diana Awards event signals a careful public-appearance strategy as the couple spend time back in the UK.
When asked whether Meghan would attend a Diana Awards appearance with Harry, the Sussexes’ team replied “Absolutely not.”
A royal commentator framed the response as a conscious PR choice: Meghan appears selective about high-profile public events.
Meghan is reported to be working on a homeware and lifestyle brand, with activity suggesting Britain remains a target market.
On a recent episode of The Royals with Roya and Kate podcast, Kate Mansey of The Times described contacting the Sussexes' representatives about reports that Meghan would accompany Prince Harry to a Diana Awards ceremony. According to Mansey, the couple's team replied in two words: "Absolutely not."
Mansey suggested the short, firm refusal could be part of a deliberate public relations approach. She argued that Meghan understands the value of a carefully timed public appearance and therefore chooses when to show up at high-profile royal events. The point made on the podcast is that absence can be strategic when public attention is guaranteed.
Meghan's business activity and UK market
The podcast discussed Meghan's work on a homeware and lifestyle brand. Mansey and Nikkhah pointed to social-media activity and prior trademark filings in Britain as indicators that Meghan sees the UK as an important market for the business. Mansey said the duchess will likely choose appearances that align with her commercial and public-profile priorities.
Family interactions with the royal household
The reporting also mentions a recent meeting between King Charles and the Sussexes, including their children, at Highgrove earlier in the summer. That meeting is described as a factor in the couple's decision to establish a presence in England during this period.
A two-word official reply — "Absolutely not" — has been read by commentators as more than a refusal to attend a single event. It is being presented as a signal that Meghan and Harry will manage their UK visibility deliberately while they deal with family logistics and pursue individual projects.
The couple's latest venture has not been well-received.
Two people who are determined to ignore the second coming of Meghan and Harry are his estranged brother and sister-in-law, the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex should expect more damning statements about their non-working royal status, an expert has warned.
It has been six years since the Sussexes swapped Frogmore Cottage in Windsor for a self-imposed exile in Montecito. In that time, Prince Harry has grown apart from his old Etonian chums.
King Charles issued a letter following the couple’s recent U.K. move.
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