Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to Appear at Separate Events on Opposite Coasts Next Week

Prince Harry is taking a page out of his wife’s book for his Dec. 4 appearance in New York City while Meghan remains in L.A.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle both have planned appearances next week — albeit on separate coasts.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, will join Andrew Ross Sorkin for a conversation at The New York Times DealBook Conference on Wednesday, Dec. 4 in New York City, according to a spokesperson. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, is expected to attend the 2024 Paley Honors Fall Gala the same day, where she’ll help honor Tyler Perry with The Paley Honors Award, which is The Paley Center for Media’s highest honor. While both Harry and Meghan were on the hosting committee for their friend Perry, only Meghan will attend the event.

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In his appearance alongside Sorkin, Harry is actually following in Meghan’s footsteps. In November 2021, Meghan was interviewed by Sorkin as part of The New York Times DealBook Online Summit, where she joined a conversation called “Minding the Gap” about how women can reach economic and professional parity.

During the conversation, Meghan called paid leave “a humanitarian issue” and spoke about how, from a young age, she “always stood up for what was right,” alluding to, at just 11 years old, calling out Procter & Gamble for a sexist commercial that advertised its Ivory dishwashing soap solely to women. After writing a letter to the company, it changed the slogan from “Women all over America” to “People all over America.”

“Even before I had any sort of privilege in my life — when my life and my lifestyle were very, very different — I always stood up for what was right,” she said.

She also spoke to Sorkin about selling homemade scrunchies when she was young, saying, “I remember the feeling of knowing that I had done something. I had invested in myself and done this labor and been compensated for it. There’s a sense of pride that comes from that.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, Meghan said, “There’s nothing wrong with talking about a woman’s success or her ambition or her financial prowess” — and added that men should be a part of the conversation, too.

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At one point in the conversation, Meghan urged Sorkin “not to read tabloids, because I don’t think that’s healthy for anyone.” She added, “Hopefully, one day they come with a warning label like cigarettes do. Like, ‘This is toxic for your mental health.’ ”

During the appearance, Meghan wore a poppy pin, which members of the British royal family traditionally wear each November to honor those who have lost their lives in war. Photographer Calla Kessler said of the accessory “I asked her about the poppy. It’s for Remembrance Day, to honor armed forces members,” noting that Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years.

Harry and Meghan’s separate, bicoastal appearances on Dec. 4 are reflective of their new dynamic, which a friend told PEOPLE in October is like “a twin-track approach.” Prince Harry is focused on his philanthropic efforts, while Meghan is leaning into entrepreneurial projects and commercial ventures — though they still have many projects they’re working on together.

“The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals — not just as a couple,” a royal source told PEOPLE. “The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her entrepreneurial track.” The source added, “But there will be joint efforts around those cause-driven areas of work."

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The shift also reflects their commitment that one of them always stays behind in California with kids Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. “What we are seeing is a functional and healthy relationship with two working partners, not the contrary,” the source said of the couple.