Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s marriage is again in the spotlight after a bizarre passage in a Vanity Fair article.

The magazine suggested “their love is real” and “they are hot for each other” while simultaneously dropping in an anecdote suggesting Meghan at one stage wanted to know if publishers would be interested in a book about her divorcing Harry.

Professor Tim Luckhurst, a journalism expert and former newspaper editor, questioned the magazine’s decision to run the anecdote and told Newsweek: “I would expect such an excellent publication to seek clear evidence that a divorce was in prospect before publishing speculation about such an outcome.”

Newsweek approached Vanity Fair’s publisher for comment.

Why It Matters

Meghan and Harry have been fending off divorce rumors since 2023 but do not seem to be able to completely shake them despite the prince going on record to dismiss such talk in a recent interview.

Newsweek understands the couple are still very much in love and there is no substance to any speculation they are divorcing.

What to Know

Vanity Fair journalist Anna Peele wrote: “A few years ago a rumor began circulating around the book world about another prospective project for Meghan.

“This story, which a person with knowledge confirms the broad details of, was that Meghan’s team had a conversation with a publishing house to gauge interest in the idea for a potential book.

“The concept, for which there was no written or formal proposal, was post-divorce. Not a general book on life after marital dissolution, or one about Meghan’s past experience. (She was married to producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2014.)

“This book—this notion of a book, really—might center on a post-Harry divorce. Not that there was actually one in the works! Just…if this a priori divorce ever came to be, would this publisher theoretically be interested in a book that took place in its aftermath?”

However, the piece quoted a second source “with knowledge” who said: “If that’s true to any degree, she would have been approached and not vice versa.”

What People Are Saying

Professor Tim Luckhurst, principal of South College at Britain’s Durham University and a former newspaper editor told Newsweek: “It is one of the most obvious realities in journalist that royal stories sell a lot of copies.

“While this used to be a diet that dominated the popular tabloids and was treated with a degree of reserve by the quality press, it is quite clear as new competition has challenged traditional journalism that more upmarket newspapers and magazines are showing a renewed and revived interest in stories about the royal family.

“On this occasion the story appears to verge on the frontiers of fantasy. One would normally expect that journalism about divorce would only follow evidence that divorce was imminent. In this case there appears to be no such evidence.”

Prince Harry previously denied speculation of a secret divorce in an interview with the New York Times Dealbook summit: “It’s definitely not a good thing. Because apparently we’ve bought or moved house maybe 10 or 12 times and we’ve apparently divorced maybe 10 or 12 times as well.

“So, it’s just like ‘what?’ So, it’s hard to keep up with but that’s why you just sort of ignore it.”

What Happens Next

Meghan is gearing up for new Netflix show With Love, Meghan in March, having delayed the original release date because of the L.A. wildfires.

Meanwhile, Harry will be giving evidence in his lawsuit alleging unlawful practices at the Murdoch empire at London’s High Court.

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.