Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan: Was 2024 a year full of setbacks?

In recent years, a lot has happened to Prince Harry (40) and his wife Duchess Meghan (43) both professionally and privately – including in the recent past: This is how the last twelve months went for the royal dropouts.

Four years ago, the British Prince Harry emigrated to the USA, and his visa has been a topic of conversation for the past two years. The reason for this is Harry’s openness about his past with drugs: he opened up about his use in his memoir “Reserve.” Did he hide this on his immigration forms? Some fellow citizens in his adopted homeland probably wanted to know more about this.

It was only in September that the responsible court ended the procedure for disclosure of the visa, which the organization “The Heritage Foundation” demanded. But now the American by choice is threatened with trouble again: According to media reports, an application has already been filed in court to reopen the visa case. “Harry is currently hanging by a thread.” US President-elect Donald Trump (78) has already made it clear that he will not help Harry.

In the past few months, Harry and Meghan have, among other things, traveled together to Colombia and attended the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. But the couple’s solo appearances also increased this year: While the 40-year-old traveled to charity events in New York, his homeland and Africa, his wife appeared alone at a gala, among other things. Because of this, speculation about a possible marital crisis made the rounds.

However, there is said to be no truth in the rumors. “The Duke and Duchess have now found their own path as individuals – not just as a couple. Harry is focused on his patronages while Meghan follows her entrepreneurial plans,” a friend of the couple denied. Harry and Meghan are still happy, their family still comes first: “The fact that one of them appears alone is just a sign that they take their parental role seriously and one is always with the children.”

Four years ago, Harry and Meghan emigrated to the USA and built a new life away from the British royals. But gradually the 40-year-old seems to be drawn back to his homeland. e, Harry is reportedly already looking at some properties in Great Britain: He has “a few different options,” but he is particularly interested in a property near London. “This would be ideal for him to attend official events of the Invictus Games and other charities he supports,” and to welcome family members such as King Charles (76) or his cousins, Princess Beatrice (36) and Princess Eugenie (34). see with whom he maintains a close relationship. However, buying a house in Windsor is unlikely because Harry’s estranged brother Prince William (42) lives there with his family.

Harry and Meghan are also said to have bought a property in Portugal – for this they are said to have used the income from their deal with the streaming platform Netflix. Accordingly, the house is “around the corner” from Harry’s cousin Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank (38), who have been commuting between London and Portugal for two years. According to the British newspaper, Harry and Meghan want to use the property as a kind of holiday accommodation.

Little has been heard of Meghan’s newly founded lifestyle brand “American Riviera Orchard” recently: the former actress launched the line last March, and a month later she sent the first samples of her own jam to numerous prominent friends. Since then, the project seems to have come to a standstill. Because like the , Meghan’s trademark application was allegedly rejected by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The reason: Companies are not allowed to mark geographical locations. A statement from the office states that by mentioning a location in the brand name, “a public association of the goods and services with the location is assumed.” It is not yet known whether Meghan will change the name of her brand.

Author Tom Quinn thinks he knows another reason for delays. “Meghan’s tough attitude has led to her having difficulty finding employees for her new brand – she wants them to be full of their own ideas but also completely obedient to her wishes,” he speculates. There have been reports in the USA about how difficult the Duchess is supposed to be as a boss. A source close to the couple claimed: “Everyone is afraid of Meghan.” Another source explained: “She’s absolutely relentless. She parades around like a dictator in high heels, fuming and barking orders. I’ve seen her bring grown men to tears.”

But Harry and Meghan were not only confronted with problems professionally. The couple and the British royal family have been at odds for years. In 2024, the royal family had to cope with two serious blows of fate: both Harry’s father, King Charles III. (76) and his sister-in-law Princess Kate (42) suffered from cancer. Harry and Meghan – as well as the general public – found out about the Princess’s illness from the media: “They had no idea and only found out about the news around the same time as the rest of the world. This shows the irreparable damage it is causing have.”

Harry and his brother William don’t seem to have gotten closer again this year. The siblings attended the funeral of Harry and William’s uncle Robert Fellowes (1941-2024), who died at the end of July, but according to media reports they did not speak to each other. “William and Harry were both there, but we didn’t see them talking to each other and they kept their distance,” an eyewitness reported. At least there were public birthday wishes via social media to Harry from William and the Royal Family. He celebrated his 40th birthday in September.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are unlikely to celebrate Christmas with the royal family in Sandringham this year. A source told People that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not received an invitation. After moving to the USA, the two attacked members of the royal family in interviews, a Netflix documentary and in Harry’s memoirs.