Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will appear at different events on the same day

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are scheduled to perform next week, albeit on different coasts.

The 40-year-old Duke of Sussex will join a conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin New York Times The DealBook conference will take place on Wednesday, December 4, in New York City, according to a spokesperson. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex is expected to attend the 2024 Paley Honors Fall Gala on the same day, where she will help honor Tyler Perry with the Paley Honors Award, the Paley Center for Media’s highest honor. . Although both Harry and Meghan were on the committee to welcome their friend Perry, only Meghan will be in attendance.

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

During the conversation, Meghan called paid leave a “humanitarian issue” and talked about how from a young age she has “always stood up for what’s right,” alluding to how, at age 11, she called out Procter & Gamble for a sexist commercial in which Ivory dish soap was marketed exclusively to women. After writing a letter to the company, she changed the slogan from “Women Across America” to “People Across America.”

“Even before I had any 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 told Sorkin about selling homemade scrunchies when she was little, saying, “I remember the feeling of knowing I had done something. I invested in myself, did this work and received a reward for it. This is where pride comes from.”

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

At one point in the conversation, Meghan urged Sorkin to “not read the tabloids because I don’t think that’s helpful to anyone.” She added: “I hope one day they will have a warning label on them, like cigarettes. Like, “This is toxic to your mental health.” »

During her appearance, Meghan wore a poppy pin, which members of the British royal family traditionally wear every November to honor those who have died in war. Photographer Calla Kessler spoke about the accessory: “I asked her about the poppy. This is Remembrance Day, in honor of military personnel,” noting that Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years.

Harry and Meghan’s separate bicoastal appearances on Dec. 4 reflect their new dynamic, which a friend told PEOPLE in October is like a “dual approach.” Prince Harry is focused on his philanthropic work, while Meghan is leaning towards entrepreneurial projects and commercial ventures, although they still have many projects they are working on together.

“The Duke and Duchess have now achieved success as individuals, not just as a couple,” a royal source told PEOPLE. “The Duke appears to be focused on his patronage work, while the Duchess is concentrating on her entrepreneurial activities.” The source added: “But there will be a joint effort in these areas of work.”

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The shift also reflects their commitment to keeping one of them always in California with their children, five-year-old Prince Archie and three-year-old Princess Lilibet. “What we see is a functional and healthy relationship with two working partners, not the other way around,” a company spokesperson said. A source spoke about the couple.