Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first joint public appearance since moving back to the United Kingdom, arriving in Nottingham on Thursday to meet youth charities and greet cheering crowds who lined the streets with bouquets and throwback photographs.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at The Community Recording Studio in St Ann’s just after 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, marking their first official joint outing since returning to live in Britain in August with their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
The Return to Nottingham and a Sentimental Choice
The choice of location mirrored their very first joint public engagement which took place in December 2017 just days after announcing their engagement. Well-wishers handed over bouquets of flowers and balloons, while one 90-year-old attendee, Irene Hardman, showed Meghan a framed photo of their meeting in 2017 from that very first walkabout.
BREAKING: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have greeted fans in Nottingham as they arrived at a recording studio for their first engagement since returning to the UK.@LisaSkyNews reports.https://t.co/wEo8IHoC0A📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/SoUvwlbwWB
— https://x.com/SkyNews/status/2110670072448516098
Dressed in a burgundy outfit including a skirt by The Fold, Meghan told well-wishers that It’s great to be back. Prince Harry accompanied her in a blazer and blue jeans, pausing to shake hands and chat with the crowd before heading inside.
Workshops and Community Visits Across the City
Inside the recording studio, the couple observed an acting workshop led by André Squire aimed at helping young people build confidence. During the session, Meghan advised young girls to speak kindly to themselves and shared that five-year-old Lilibet is currently enjoying gymnastics classes.
The couple’s itinerary included three public stops. Following their time at the recording studio, they scheduled visits to the Himmah Hub food bank to reconnect with members of the Hubb Community Kitchen and a final stop at Epic Partners to learn about local youth mentorship programs.
Tensions Over Royal Status and Public Roles
The outing coincides with recent institutional friction surrounding the couple’s official standing. Last month, a letter issued by the Lord Chamberlain clarified that following their relocation, the Duke and Duchess hold a position akin to private citizens
rather than working royals.
It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the sovereign and are no longer working members of the royal family.
Lord Chamberlain, Royal Household
While Prince Harry has made a series of solo charitable appearances since returning to the UK—including the Invictus Spirit Awards and the Well Child Awards —sources indicated that Meghan does not plan to maintain a regular schedule of public appearances, focusing instead on her family and professional projects like her As Ever business.
The couple’s return to the United Kingdom followed a period living in a Montecito, California mansion after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Since settling back in Britain after their arrival in August, the pair had conducted exclusively solo outings—such as Prince Harry’s appearances at a rugby match and the Invictus Spirit Gala, and Meghan’s lunch with Malala at Claridge’s and a visit with hairdresser George Northwood—before coming together for their Nottingham appearance. The schedule also followed a brief stint where their children enrolled in a private school that was changed after only two days due to security concerns.
Crowds outside the Community Recording Studio and Himmah Hub included school children who skipped school alongside royal fans who waited patiently with gift bags, unicorn and Batman foil balloons, and various bouquets. Local organizations visited during the trip focus on youth development, mentoring, sports, and tackling food poverty, aligning with programs Prince Harry has backed since a private visit to St Ann’s in 2013 and previous support from The Royal Foundation.