Beyoncé has been earning rave reviews for most of her performances on her “Renaissance” world tour, but at least one notable audience member at her Los Angeles show Friday night appeared less than enthused in photos posted on social media.
That’s Prince Harry, who attended the show at SoFi Stadium with his wife, Meghan Markle, and her mother, Doria Ragland. The Duke of Sussex, his wife and mother-in-law enjoyed seats in a VIP box. While Markle and Ragland seemed to be having a great time, up off their feet and dancing and waving their arms, Harry “seemed more subdued and distracted by his phone,” TMZ reported, citing reports from eyewitness.
“Some observers even said Harry looked disinterested and dejected” — for at least part of the show, TMZ added. One social media user posted a photo of the group in their VIP box on X. The photo shows Harry standing, but it appeared he did so grudgingly. The son of King Charles III, dressed in a silver gray jacket, even appeared to glower.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Renaissance World Tour night 1 in Inglewood! pic.twitter.com/xHLhBDoJZL
— (@bluesbabysitter) September 2, 2023
Page Six also shared photos that showed how the Duchess of Sussex and her mother got into the spirit of the night by wearing silver. For her birthday, Beyoncé asked her fans to wear silver to her shows, and Meghan complied by donning a silver sequined pencil skirt and white top, while her mother sported a shimmering silver top.
But the Page Six photos, which came from a social media user, also provided more indication that Harry’s attention was focused elsewhere, as his wife and mother-in-law seemed to be having a really good time.
I took a bunch of them, and no not one of my pictures is he enjoying himself. I did get this one albeit a bit blurry where he is on the phone. pic.twitter.com/Jql3KjCb4L
— I Woke up in a Floo Mugati (@BardavidCarrie) September 2, 2023
Perhaps, Harry felt a bit like audience members at Beyoncé’s less-than-stellar concert Wednesday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. As reported by this news organization’s critic Jim Harrington, the singer “muddled through a concert that was far more mixed bag than masterpiece,” while the crowd had a “lackluster response,” exhibiting “far less energy and enthusiasm than what one usually sees at big stadium shows.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 14: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (2nd L) meets cast and crew, including Beyonce Knowles-Carter (C) Jay-Z (R) as they attend the European Premiere of Disney’s “The Lion King” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Niklas Halle’n-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
It’s curious that Harry didn’t seemed focused on Beyoncé’s show Friday night, given that he’s friendly with her and she has shown appreciation for his wife on several occasions. He and Meghan reportedly first met Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, at the London premiere of “The Lion King” in the summer of 2019. The Sussexes enjoyed an amiable chat with Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and the singer called Meghan “my princess” and hugged her.
Two years later, Beyoncé publicly commended Meghan’s bravery after her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which the American former TV actor revealed experiencing racism — or unconscious bias, as Harry later said — while serving as a working member of the royal family.
“Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership,” the pop star wrote on her website at the time, along with a photo from their “Lion King” interaction. “We are all strengthened and inspired by you.”
Of course, Harry has a lot on his mind right now, which could have distracted him from Beyoncé’s performance, at least for part of the time. His long-anticipated documentary series, “Heart of Invictus,” premiered on Netflix on Wednesday — the day before the 26th anniversary of the death of his beloved mother, Princess Diana. It’s not known how Harry marked this sad anniversary.
“Heart of Invictus” received mixed reviews, even as it follows the inspiring journeys of physically and mentally injured military veterans as they prepared to compete in the games last year. Harry is the founder and patron of the Invictus Games, and he’s preparing to travel to Germany in the next week to preside over the 2023 Games, which open Sept. 9.
“Heart of Invictus” marked Harry’s first solo project as part of his and Meghan’s multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix. Newsweek reported Friday that the series has thus far not done as well as expected with audiences, failing to break into the daily Netflix Top 10 streaming charts in America and Britain.
