Five years after the world watched their fairy- tale wedding at Windsor Castle, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had one of the most well-documented romances in the world. Every public appearance, every photograph and every sideways glance has spawned column inches and feverish copy.
So it was surprising to many when the pair did not publicly acknowledge their recent five year anniversary with a statement or post on their Archewell website.
Some commentators, unsurprisingly, have leapt on their silence as some sort of tell towards trouble in paradise: royal commentator Angela Levin declared Meghan ‘is absolutely separating’ for Harry, with a touch more hawkish glee than strictly necessary.
Like most rationally-minded people, I am indifferent to whether Harry and Meghan do go their separate ways. Especially as such dwindling displays of affection on a public platform may just be symptomatic of longer term-relationships in general.
Whatever is going on between Harry and Meghan in their Montecito mansion is something we’re ever unlikely to know the truth about. But maybe, for a couple this well established and hardy in the face of very public criticism, they no longer feel the need to push forward a narrative that they’re endlessly strong and happy.
Perhaps there’s no need to portray an Insta-perfect picture of coupledom. Perhaps, after such stormy times, they’re embracing the quiet, delicious mundanity that long-term relationships demand.
