Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have only been spotted together in public a couple of times in recent weeks – a far cry from the “salt and pepper” duo the former Suits actress once claimed they were.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, global icons and a duo once inseparable in the spotlight, have raised eyebrows recently due to their individual pursuits. In past times, Meghan has humorously compared them to “salt and pepper,” highlighting that they “move together.”

However, recent weeks have seen a shift, with Harry jetting off alone for activities including a trip to South Africa, and separate visits to New York and London. This independent streak was enough for the local Montecito Journal to stir up chatter of Harry and Meghan living “increasingly separate lives.”

Responding to the murmurs, an insider close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex insisted that it’s perfectly “normal” for even the closest couples “to not do everything together,” seemingly quashing whispers of marital discord. Considering the fairytale phase when Harry and Meghan first joined hands in matrimony in 2018 in a wedding watched by millions globally, this phase of their connection seems like a stark contrast to the blissful early days.

This evolution is even more pronounced as we recall their beginning as newlyweds at Frogmore Cottage within Windsor’s royal precincts. Curiously, rumors hint that initially, they had considered an even more opulent estate than the one that became their home—a tantalizing glimpse at an alternate path not taken by the pair after their 2020 relocation to California and a step back from their royal duties.

Sunday Times Royal Editor Roya Nikkah reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their sights set on living within the historic walls of Windsor Castle, as we previously disclosed. The castle has been a royal residence for nearly a millennium, housing various royals including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Andrew alongside his former spouse Sarah Ferguson, reports the Daily Record.

The estate boasts an array of dwellings, from grand mansions to quaint cottages, all bestowed by the Queen herself. Yet, it’s understood that Queen Elizabeth II firmly denied the Sussexes’ request to make the castle their home.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex expressed a desire to reside within the castle, inquiring if “living quarters could be made available after their marriage.” Initially, only the Queen and Prince Philip enjoyed private apartments inside the castle, while other family members lived across the estate.

Hugo Vickers, writing for the Express, suggested the refusal might stem from concerns about the suitability of the castle for a young family. He noted: “There are empty bedrooms and suites in the private apartments within Windsor Castle which the Sussexes may have had their eye on, or perhaps some former living quarters in the castle grounds converted into other things.”

He added: “But I can see how it might not be entirely appropriate to have a young family living there.”

Windsor Castle, a royal residence for centuries, was the preferred home of the late Queen in her twilight years. The site is the final resting place for generations of royals, including the former monarch and her husband, Prince Philip.