Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were all smiles during their first joint public outing of the year, an appearance that followed the Duke of Sussex’s pointed response to controversial remarks from President Donald Trump.
The couple attended the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the premiere of their documentary Cookie Queens, which they executive produced through Archewell Productions. Photographs show them posing cheerfully with festival officials, seemingly focused on the event and undeterred by recent political tensions.
This outing came just after Prince Harry, a veteran of the British Armed Forces, issued a statement addressing Trump’s claims that the U.S. “never needed” its NATO allies and that nations like the UK held back from frontlines in Afghanistan. While not naming Trump directly, Harry firmly noted the UK’s sacrifice, stating, “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there.” He highlighted that 457 British service personnel were killed in the conflict.
The statement was widely seen as a defense of both the UK and the NATO alliance, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer having previously called Trump’s comments “insulting and frankly, appalling.” Meghan Markle showed her quiet support by sharing archival photos of Harry’s military service and his work with the Invictus Games.
Harry’s recent trip to the UK for his phone-hacking case against the Daily Mail’s publisher preceded this diplomatic intervention. The couple’s stance, while residing in the U.S., adds a complex layer to U.S.-UK relations. The controversy may also impact future plans, potentially complicating a possible state visit by King Charles III to the U.S. for the nation’s 250th anniversary, given his role as head of the British armed forces.
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