“The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals – not just as a couple,” a royal insider tells PEOPLE

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Germany, in Sept. 2023. Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images

As Prince Harry gathered around a bonfire in the African kingdom of Lesotho on Oct. 1 with key allies from his charity, Sentebale, he reaffirmed his commitment to a cause close to his heart.

Engaged in meaningful conversations about the HIV/AIDS crisis in southern Africa — an issue the Duke of Sussex has championed for years — it was the latest in a series of public engagements supporting his philanthropic interests. These recent outings strikingly reflect the duties Harry once carried out as a senior working royal.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in California, Meghan Markle remained at home in Montecito, focusing on a different but equally significant chapter of their shared journey. The Duchess of Sussex is preparing for the upcoming launch of her new Netflix show and lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, while caring for the couple’s two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speaks at a Sentebale welcome event in Lesothovia on October 1, 2024.Brian Otieno/Getty

Insiders say that what’s unfolding reflects a clear shift in the couple’s public lives. While Harry is immersed in philanthropic efforts, Meghan is leaning into entrepreneurial projects and commercial ventures.

“It’s clear that a twin-track approach is evolving,” a friend tells PEOPLE.

A royal insider echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the evolution of their working dynamic. “The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals – not just as a couple. The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her entrepreneurial track,” the insider says.

Since stepping back from royal life in 2020, Harry, 40, has maintained his commitment to various patronages, many of which continued virtually during the pandemic. Now, he’s back to in-person engagements, reaffirming his role as patron to around 10 charitable organizations, including Sentebale, the Invictus Games and WellChild, making solo appearances across the U.S., U.K., and Africa in a flurry of activity.

Prince Harry at the WellChild awards evening in London on Sept. 30.Chris Jackson/Getty

Meghan, on the other hand, is pouring energy into entrepreneurial goals, including the forthcoming launch of her American Riviera lifestyle brand and Netflix show. Though their paths may seem divergent — philanthropy for Harry and business for Meghan — their shared initiatives, like the Archewell Foundation, show they remain united in their efforts.

Meghan, 43, remains invested in causes such as mental health and children’s welfare, while Harry balances his nonprofit efforts with production projects like his polo documentary for Netflix.

The couple’s collaborative work endures, from launching The Parents Network, a new initiative to support families impacted by online harm, to local community engagements like attending the opening of Godmothers, a bookstore near their home in Montecito. Insiders confirm these joint efforts will continue, even as their individual projects expand.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attends the “Keynote: Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen,” during the SXSW 2024 Conference and Festivals on March 8, 2024, in Austin, Texas. 

“An entrepreneurial and enterprise focus is going to be more the Duchess’s priority and the Duke will continue to champion his not-for-profit patronages,” the friend adds. “But there will be joint efforts around those cause-driven areas of work.”

This shift in focus has led to several recent solo appearances for Harry, but Meghan’s absence far from signals a split. “[It’s] as much a reflection on parenting priorities, in that one of them stays behind with the children,” says the friend.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at a training session for the Invictus Games team in Colombia on Aug. 16.Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

It also reflects a strategic decision, given the intense scrutiny they face. Had Meghan accompanied Harry, critics might have accused her of trying to steal the spotlight, as they have in the past. “This truth is, this couple is damned if they do, damned if they don’t,” says the insider.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Colegio La Giralda during The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Colombia Visit on August 16, 2024 in Bogota, Colombia.Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

Additionally, Harry’s desire to spend more time in the U.K.—either alone or with his family—has been hampered by his ongoing legal battle over security, sources tell PEOPLE.

Ultimately, their dynamic reflects a balanced partnership, where individual passions complement their joint mission. “With their recent trips to Nigeria and Colombia, as well as their foundation-led events, it is still evident they show up together for the causes they jointly support,” the royal insider says.

“What we are seeing is a functional and healthy relationship with two working partners, not the contrary.”