Prince Harry may have attended Game 5 of the NBA Finals as a personal guest of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, but according to a new report, Meghan Markle wasn’t impressed with where he sat. Harry, who was already at the 2026 Warrior Games in San Antonio, Texas, attended the championship game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs after receiving a personal invitation from Silver. However, instead of securing one of the coveted courtside seats that celebrities and VIPs usually enjoy, Harry watched the match from the eighth row.
Why did Meghan Markle look like a little bit of seating?
According to a source who spoke to Rob Shuter, the seats did not sit well with Meghan. “Meghan notices everything when it comes to image,” the source said. “For him, the seats are status. It’s not just about watching a game, it’s about who’s watching you watching the game.”Harry’s placement was in stark contrast to several celebrities in prime seats near the court, including Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee, all of whom made prominent appearances during the broadcast. “Meghan thinks Harry is one of the most popular men in the world,” the source continued. “When he’s sitting behind celebrities instead of next to them, he sees it as a message.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton comparisons
Sources also said Meghan was unable to compare the seating arrangement to the treatment William and Kate received at previous NBA appearances. “Meghan knows that Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton would be given front-line treatment,” a royal insider said.
“Meghan knows Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton would be offered front-line treatment.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended a game against the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers during their 2014 trip to New York, where they mingled with Beyoncé and Jay-Z and received custom LeBron James Cavaliers jerseys. A few years later, during a visit to Boston for Earthshot Prize events in 2022, the pair again received VIP treatment at a Celtics versus Heat game, along with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, courtesy of Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca.
Prince Harry’s reported reaction and his moment with Spike Lee
Despite Meghan’s supposed frustration, Harry himself didn’t seem to pay much attention to the seats. “Harry loved the game and almost thought about the seat,” said a friend. “That’s the difference between them. He watches a basketball game. Meghan watches a brand.”Harry also created the ad online after an interaction with filmmaker and longtime Knicks superfan Spike Lee. Video circulating online showed Lee pointing at Harry and talking to him as the king made his way to his seat, Harry responded by placing his hand on Lee’s chest and extending his hand in greeting. According to Page Six, Lee initially appeared to refuse the nod, though the pair eventually shared a handshake and continued chatting.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s VIP sporting appearances
The last time Harry and Meghan attended an NBA event together, they were seated at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles in February, among the celebrities and athletes who showed up over the weekend. “Image is everything to Meghan,” another source told Shute. “He believes that every appearance sends a message. In his world, where you sit almost doesn’t matter who plays.”
