Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are living apart amid divorce fears

But did the charm work on her marriage?

“This trip was a great opportunity to combine business with pleasure and enjoy a few romantic days without the kids,” the source said. , 6, and Lilibet, 4, were left in the couple’s $14.6 million home in Montecito, California.

Behind the scenes, however, there was more going on during the escape.

“It was also seen by some as a make-or-break week in many ways,” the source added.

Nearly six years after Harry, 41, and Markle, 44, stunned the world by quitting royal life to forge a new future in California, there is growing speculation that they could be quietly assessing what life looks like separately, even as they publicly present a united front.

The source added: “Their appearance has only fueled the rumor mill and has people more convinced than ever that there is trouble in paradise.”

Amid the rumors of trouble, Markle has had a big year.

She launched two seasons of her Netflix entertainment series, With love, Meghanas well as one season of a business podcast, Confessions of a Female Founderwhich won a Signal Award on October 15 in the Business People & Entrepreneurs Shaping Culture category.

She also debuted her As Ever product line of wine, fruit spreads, teas, cookies, honey, crepe mix and floral sprinkles in partnership with the streamer, who signed a new first-look deal with the Sussexes this summer when their previous five-year contract worth a reported $100 million expired.