Prince Harry may have attended Game 5 of the NBA Finals as the personal guest of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, but according to a new report, Meghan Markle wasn’t a fan of where she ended up sitting.
Harry, who was already in San Antonio, Texas for the 2026 Warrior Games, 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 seats in the stadium usually occupied by celebrities and VIPs, Harry watched the match from the eighth row.
Why did Meghan Markle think that sitting was simple?
According to a source who spoke to Rob Shooter, the seating arrangement didn’t sit well with Meghan.
“Meghan notices everything when it comes to the photo,” the source said. “For her, sitting is status. It’s not just about watching the game, it’s about who sees you watching the game.”Harry’s position contrasts with several celebrities occupying prime seats near the court, including Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee, all of whom appeared prominently throughout the broadcast. “Meghan believes Harry is one of the most famous men in the world,” the source continued.
“When he sits behind celebrities instead of next to them, she takes it as a message.”
Comparisons to Prince William and Kate Middleton
Sources also claimed that Meghan couldn’t help but compare the seating arrangement to the treatment William and Kate received at their previous NBA appearances. “Meghan knows that Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton were going to be offered the front row treatment,” a royal insider said.
“Meghan knows Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton were going to get the front-row treatment.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game during a 2014 trip to New York, where they mingled with Beyoncé and Jay-Z and received personalized Cavaliers jerseys from LeBron James.
Years later, during a 2022 visit to Boston for Earthshot Award events, the pair once again received VIP treatment at a Celtics vs. Heat game, where they sat courtside alongside Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, hosted by Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca.
Prince Harry’s reported reaction and moment with Spike Lee
Despite Meghan’s alleged frustration, Harry himself reportedly paid little attention to the sit-down. A friend said: “Harry loved the game and hardly thought about sitting down again.”
“That’s the difference between them. He sees a basketball game. Megan sees a brand.”Harry also caused quite a stir online after his interaction with director and longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee. The video circulating online appeared to show Lee pointing at Harry and speaking to him as the prince made his way to his seat, with Harry responding by placing his hand on Lee’s chest and extending his hand in greeting. According to Page Six, Lee initially appeared to reject the gesture, though the pair eventually exchanged handshakes and continued to chat.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sport previous VIP appearances
The last time Harry and Meghan attended an NBA event together, they were seated courtside at the NBA All-Star Game in February in Los Angeles, putting them front and center among the celebrities and athletes who made appearances throughout the weekend. “The image is everything to Meghan,” another source told Shooter. “She believes that every appearance sends a message. In her world, where you sit is as important as who is playing.”
