Meghan Markle livid over Prince Harry’s NBA Finals seat: Report
Meghan Markle livid over Prince Harry’s NBA Finals seat: Report
Wonderwall.com Editors Tue, June 16, 2026 at 11:48 PM UTC
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Prince Harry reportedly paid little attention to his eighth-row NBA Finals seat, while Meghan Markle allegedly viewed the placement as a status issue. By: Charles Wenzelberg / New York / MEGA; MEGA
Prince Harry may have been a guest of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but according to one report, Meghan Markle was less than impressed by where he ended up sitting.
The Duke of Sussex was already in San Antonio, Texas, for the 2026 Warrior Games and attended the championship-clinching matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs after receiving a personal invitation from Silver.
But rather than landing one of the coveted courtside seats occupied by celebrities and VIPs, Harry watched the action from the eighth row — a placement sources claim Meghan viewed as a slight.
Meghan views 'seating as status'
Prince Harry attended Game 5 of the NBA Finals after receiving a personal invitation from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who was seated beside him. By: MEGA
"Meghan notices everything when it comes to image," a source told Hollywood author Rob Shuter, who wrote about the alleged drama in his Naughty But Nice Substack column. "To her, seating is status. It's not just about watching a game — it's about who sees you watching the game."
Harry's seating assignment stood in contrast to the celebrities occupying prime real estate near the court. Famed Knicks fans including Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee were prominently featured throughout the broadcast from their courtside seats.
"Meghan believes Harry is one of the most recognizable men in the world," the source continued. "When he's sitting behind celebrities instead of beside them, she sees it as a message."
Comparisons to William and Kate
Prince Harry watched the New York Knicks clinch their first NBA championship in more than five decades from an eighth-row seat at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. By: MEGA
Meghan allegedly couldn't help but compare Harry's seating arrangement to the treatment received by Prince William and Kate Middleton during previous NBA appearances.
"Meghan knows Prince William and Princess Kate would have been offered front-row treatment," a royal insider told Naughty But Nice.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended a Brooklyn Nets-Cleveland Cavaliers game during a 2014 trip to New York, where they mingled with Beyoncé and JAY-Z and received custom Cavs jerseys from LeBron James.
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Years later, during a 2022 visit to Boston for Earthshot Prize events, William and Kate once again enjoyed VIP treatment while attending a Celtics-Heat game. Hosted by Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, they sat courtside alongside Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Harry's interaction with Knicks superfan Spike Lee
Prince Harry shared a brief exchange with filmmaker and longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee at Game 5 of the NBA Finals. By: MEGA
Harry, however, reportedly paid little attention to where he was sitting.
"Harry loved the game and barely gave the seating a second thought," a friend told Naughty But Nice. "That's the difference between them. He sees a basketball game. Meghan sees a brand."
The Duke of Sussex also generated buzz following his interaction with filmmaker and longtime Knicks fan Lee.
Video circulating online appeared to show Lee pointing at and speaking to Harry as the royal made his way toward his seat. Harry responded by placing a hand on Lee's chest and extending his hand in greeting.
According to Page Six, Lee initially appeared to decline the gesture, though the pair ultimately shared a handshake and continued chatting.
Harry and Meghan's previous sporting event VIP treatment
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had front-row seats for a 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series game. By: FOX
The last time Harry and Meghan attended an NBA event together, they were seated courtside at February's NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, putting them front and center among the celebrities and athletes featured throughout the weekend.
"Image is everything to Meghan," another source told Shuter's Naughty But Nice column. "She believes every appearance sends a message. In her world, where you sit matters almost as much as who's playing."
The Sussexes have previously found themselves in premium seating sections at major sporting events over the years. In addition to the NBA All-Star Game, the couple sat in the owner's section during Game 4 of the 2025 World Series when the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Toronto Blue Jays.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
