Meghan Markle and Prince Harry showed up ready to enjoy the excitement of the 2025 World Series. They took front row seats at Dodger Stadium and joined the crowd in cheering. Yet, even with so much attention on them, it did not take long before fans shifted their focus to someone sitting right behind them.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended Game 4 on Tuesday, October 28. They blended into the cheering section while watching the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Toronto Blue Jays. Meghan supported her hometown team by wearing a Dodger blue baseball cap. Harry later put on one of his own.
Meghan wore dark pants with a roomy white button down shirt. Harry chose a black blazer with a white shirt and matching dark pants.
Their seats placed them directly in front of one of the most celebrated pitchers in baseball history, Sandy Koufax. Many people online were excited to see the royal couple in person. Yet plenty of others felt even more starstruck by the baseball legend sitting just behind them.
Some fans commented that Koufax was the one who truly deserved the royal treatment. One person wrote that they were more interested in the gentleman behind the couple and called him a legend. Another person joked that the real royalty was behind Harry and Meghan. Others wondered if the pair even knew who Koufax was or whether they took a moment to greet him.
Koufax played only 12 seasons but left a legacy that made him one of the greatest left handed pitchers ever. His story began at the University of Cincinnati on a basketball scholarship. He thought he might become an architect. His athletic ability eventually guided him to Major League Baseball instead. He won several Cy Young Awards and became a defining figure for the Dodgers. Chronic arthritis in his elbow forced him to retire at age 30. Even so, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 as the youngest player ever honored at that time.
Many people were thrilled to see such a sports icon in attendance. Others, though, shifted their attention to questions about team loyalty. Some commenters pointed out that Harry is connected to Canada through his family’s role in the Commonwealth. They joked that he should have been cheering for the Blue Jays. People questioned why neither Harry nor Meghan wore Blue Jays caps if they wanted to show support for both sides. One commenter even called it disappointing since the royal family is tied to Canada’s history and culture.
Between the hats, the outfits, and the star sitting behind them, the couple gave sports fans plenty to discuss throughout the evening.
This baseball outing was not the only time the couple stirred up online chatter. Earlier that month, on October 10, 2025, they attended the World Mental Health Day Festival hosted by Project Healthy Minds at Spring Studios in New York. Their presence at the event sparked a very different kind of conversation.
The Duke and Duchess took the stage to speak as part of their ongoing work advocating for youth mental health and safer digital spaces. Their Archewell Foundation sponsored three panels at the festival. Even so, people who were there noticed that the atmosphere around the two of them felt unusually heavy.
Audience members described Harry as more subdued than usual. He looked thoughtful and serious as he delivered opening remarks about the emotional toll of the pandemic. He spoke about the widespread rise in anxiety, depression, and disconnection.
Guests who hoped to hear the couple share more deeply on the panels seemed let down when both read prepared speeches from teleprompters instead of taking part in open discussions. Their demeanor on stage was described as businesslike. Many felt that the warmth they usually show was dialed back.
Meghan introduced one of the sessions, which focused on how children are being affected by the digital world. After the panels wrapped, the pair offered hugs and quick greetings to participants before leaving for a lunch with Serena Williams at Soho House.
Royal watchers in the audience sensed an emotional shift in Harry. Without crowds cheering or a lively public reception, the room felt surprisingly quiet and almost somber. One observer noticed that Harry seemed anxious and tired. They could not shake the feeling that he was weighed down by something personal. The subdued mood left some wondering how much his life has changed in recent years and whether he carries regrets unseen from the outside.
Reporter Brigid Brown also attended and paid close attention to Meghan’s behavior. While Harry spoke on stage, Meghan positioned herself close by. She sat in the front row near the mother of a teenage girl preparing to share her own story. The girl opened up about a terrifying experience with harmful online content during the pandemic. Her struggle with eating issues grew so severe that she ended up hospitalized. Eventually, she and her family joined a lawsuit against the platform involved.
As the girl shared her story, Meghan responded quietly but with obvious empathy. She nodded softly to encourage the young speaker. Brown described her behavior as sincere rather than performative.
Meghan’s outfit for the day matched the more casual tone of the event. She wore a striped top layered under a long wool coat with flared jeans.
The couple’s appearance at the festival came right after they made headlines the night before at the Project Healthy Minds gala. Meghan received a Humanitarians of the Year award alongside Harry. The recognition celebrated their work supporting mental health causes around the world. Some people questioned the decision because of ongoing family tensions. Supporters felt strongly that the couple had earned the honor. Laura Marquez Garrett, who presented the award, defended them and called critics pessimistic.
Despite receiving applause and warm recognition, people could not ignore the emotional complexity surrounding the couple that week. Photos and videos soon circulated online and audiences began analyzing every detail as they searched for any sign of strain between them.
During the black carpet moment at the gala, Harry wore a classic black suit and tie. Meghan matched his polish in a sleek suit with her hair styled in a ponytail. While posing for photographers, Meghan looked toward her husband. Harry did not look back at her. Instead, he turned quickly and stepped away to greet Phil Schermer, the mental health organization’s founder. Some online critics assumed there was tension between the pair. They wrote comments suggesting Harry was intentionally avoiding Meghan. Others thought she pushed his arm slightly while he was greeting Schermer. The reaction online was immediate and intense, with people rushing to make assumptions about their relationship. Many insisted the moment hinted at deeper problems.
Other viewers cared less about the awkward timing and praised how the couple looked. Supporters complimented their appearance and their involvement in meaningful causes. As always, the moment showed how much attention Harry and Meghan draw whenever they appear in public and how quickly the world reacts to every gesture.
Around the same time, the family drama extended into another high profile household. On July 1, 2025, Brooklyn Beckham shared photos celebrating his father in law’s birthday. The shots showed warmth and affection around Nicola Peltz’s family. David and Victoria Beckham were not pictured. That absence set off a new wave of criticism. Social media users defended David, pointing out that he had recently undergone arm surgery. Some suggested Brooklyn was intentionally excluding his own family and predicted he would regret the distance some day.
Brooklyn’s social media backlash came soon after he and Nicola attended a private dinner with Harry and Meghan in Montecito. The gathering reportedly included VIPs and film executives. Followers criticized the timing since Brooklyn had missed David’s 50th birthday celebration. Some also accused Meghan and Harry of causing strain between the Beckhams and their son. People online did not hold back, claiming both couples thrive on conflict. Others argued that none of the tension was serious and that David and Victoria were living their lives without worrying about it.
Meanwhile, Harry continues to face challenges within his own family. He shared in May that communication with King Charles III had broken down. With his father undergoing cancer treatment, the uncertainty weighed heavily on him. He has said that reconciliation would mean a lot to him and he no longer sees any value in letting conflict continue.
A family therapist with decades of experience commented that both the royal family and the Beckhams face a similar problem. They want to mend family relationships, but they are constantly surrounded by public scrutiny. She believes any hope of healing will require privacy.
Not long after all of this, Meghan posted a surprising Labor Day message on Instagram. It included several behind the scenes photos from her Netflix show, including rare images of Archie and Lilibet. The children sat in front of production monitors wearing matching headphones and watching the crew work. Lilibet sat in a director’s chair that dwarfed her. Archie held a clapperboard marked with a date from late 2024. Meghan explained in her caption that she liked to play music on set and shared some of her playlist songs with followers.
This post was a shift from the couple’s usual approach to protecting their children’s privacy. It came months after Meghan had faced criticism for sharing lighthearted photos of souvenirs she brought home from the Invictus Games in Canada. Some online users questioned why the children did not attend the games and suggested they lacked interaction with the outside world. Others defended the duchess and said she might have missed her kids and returned home early because she wanted to spend time with them.
Fans then noticed that she and Harry would not spend Valentine’s Day together. Many jumped to conclusions that their marriage was in trouble. Insiders denied that anything dramatic was happening. They said the plan had always been for Meghan to return to California to be with the children while Harry continued hosting Invictus events. The couple even celebrated Valentine’s Day early by dining with Michael Bublé and his wife.
Harry spoke lovingly about Meghan at the opening ceremony for the Games. He said he was grateful to have her support and excited about future Invictus Games.
Through all of these appearances and conversations, a pattern has formed. Whenever Harry and Meghan step out into the world, every expression, clothing choice, speech, and interaction becomes a talking point. People cheer them on. Others question their choices. Some look for signs of trouble. At the same time, they keep showing up. They keep supporting causes that matter to them. They keep talking about mental health and digital safety. And they keep trying to live a family life that feels as normal as possible, even when millions are watching.