Meghan Markle's pal addresses Prince Harry split rumours with firm response

Tongues have certainly been set wagging by and increasing solo appearances.

In recent weeks, Harry has been away from wife Meghan and their two children and after making a string of public appearances in New York, London, as well as Southern Africa. During his travels, Meghan was barely seen, however, she did attend a star-studded gala in aid of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles at the weekend, as she posed for photographers.

And just last week - minus her engagement ring. It comes just two years after Meghan memorably remarked she and Harry were like "salt and pepper" as they always "move together".

READ MORE:

With this seemingly not happening in recent weeks since their tour of in August, it has led many to wonder why this might be the case. And with Meghan's absence in recent weeks from Harry's appearances, a friend addressed her staying behind the scenes saying it far from signals a split. They told "[It's] as much a reflection on parenting priorities, in that one of them stays behind with the children."

Meanwhile, another source reportedly close to the couple, also said the reason for the solo appearance is down to a shift in their ventures. They told People magazine: "It's clear that a twin-track approach is evolving." While another alleged friend added: "The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals – not just as a couple. The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her entrepreneurial track."

"An entrepreneurial and enterprise focus is going to be more the Duchess's priority and the Duke will continue to champion his not-for-profit patronages. But there will be joint efforts around those cause-driven areas of work."

During Meghan's last public outing, she visited Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, an organisation that mentors young girls. At the visit without , Meghan was seen taking part in a range of activities with a group of youngsters, including drawing and crafts.

For the event, she wore a pair of chic white wide-legged trousers, a Ralph Lauren blue shirt and several pieces of jewellery, including a necklace and a bracelet stack. However, it seems one of her most famous pieces of bling - her engagement ring - was missing, although she still appeared to be wearing her wedding band.

presented her with the engagement ring when he popped the question at Kensington Palace back in 2017. He designed the gorgeous piece made with two diamonds from his mum Princess Diana's collection and one from Botswana, on a plain gold band.

In an interview to mark their engagement, Harry revealed: "The ring is - is obviously yellow gold because that's what - her favourite and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the - the little diamonds either side are from my mother's jewellery collection to make sure that she's with us on this - on this crazy journey together."

However, less than two years later, the ring looked very different after a redesign, which Meghan debuted at Trooping the Colour in 2019. By then, Meghan was wearing the ring on a thinner micropave band - along with another stunning ring.

Meghan then made a string of appearances last year, including at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, where again, she was seen not wearing the ring. However, speaking to Page Six at the time, a source claimed the ring was "being fixed", hence the fact that it is missing from her ring finger.

However, it appeared for the film premiere of biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, which celebrates the late reggae singer's life.