Meghan and Harry were cheered as they gave hugs and selfies during their first joint public appearance on British soil since their extraordinary return to the UK.
The Duchess of Sussex was handed bouquets of flowers and balloons as the couple organised a series of royal-style engagements in Nottingham today.
Harry repeatedly placed a protective arm around her as they posed for selfies before his American wife told the crowd: ‘It’s great to be back.’
Meghan then kissed one older woman on the cheek as she presented her with a gift before telling one member of the public who had gathered in the sunshine: ‘We’ve got lovely weather today. We got lucky.’
Their royal-style charity events in the East Midlands, just six weeks after returning to live in Britain, came after the King described the Sussexes as ‘private citizens’. Charles is in Wales with the Queen for an official royal engagement today.
Nottingham is where the couple carried out their first royal engagement together after announcing their engagement in 2017. The scenes today looked identical to their walkabout in the city almost a decade ago.
Irene Hardman, 90, was there to greet them in 2017 and returned today with a framed photo from the day. Meghan kissed her and told her: ‘Oh my gosh how sweet is that. That was our very first walkabout. What a great memory.’
Irene told the Daily Mail: ‘She said to me ‘I remember it well’. It was just after they had got engaged. She’s an absolute delight, she’s a pleasure. There are more people here than there were then.’
Her friend Mary Cooper, 69, said: ‘I know it’s not technically a royal engagement, but I wish it was. I wish they would reconcile. There are so few young royals now, I wish they could be royal again.’
Harry was in playful mood and was pictured tickling a man’s ginger beard.
The Sussexes are supporting a number of charities, including a community food project established in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and a recording studio where Meghan will take part in an acting workshop.
Around 100 people, including a large number of schoolchildren, gathered to greet them as they began three quasi-royal engagements in the East Midlands on Thursday.
They were being protected by their private security team during the event – but a number of police community support officers were on the scene.
The Sussexes looked very happy to be in Nottingham, with Harry putting a protective arm around his wife on their first UK appearance for four years
More than 100 people were waiting for the couple in the East Midlands this morning
The married couple looked giddy to be back out together in Britain
Meghan kisses Irene Hardman, 90, who was there to greet them in 2017 and returned today with a framed photo from the day
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, gestures as she meets with people upon her arrival
Meghan and Harry looked delighted as they were handed bouquets of flowers
Meghan bowed and clutched her hands to her chest after a warm reception
Ballons and flowers were gifted to the couple
She then ducked down to chat to a child
The duchess looked delighted with the reception
Meghan and Harry greeted excited fans in the city where they made their first royal engagement in 2017
The Duchess chatted animatedly with fans
The couple, who were called ‘private citizens’ by the King, posed for selfies
The Duke of Sussex touches a man’s ginger beard
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrive for a visit to The Community Recording Studio, a youth and community charity supporting young people through creative activities, mentoring and youth development, in Nottingham
2026: The couple meet excited crowds today
2017: Meghan Markle greet wellwishers on a walkabout as they arrive for an engagement at Nottingham Contemporary in Nottingham
Meghan flew the flag for British fashion in a £1,495 wool and cashmere coat from Joseph teamed with the brand’s cashmere turtleneck jumper, costing £345, and the £695 mini loaf bag.
Her pencil skirt was the £175 Oliena from The Fold, in deep plum, made with ‘Clever Crepe’ that’s specially designed to be crease resistant.
She completed her look with £650 burgundy heels from London-based brand Jennifer Chamandi, with a distinctive ‘eye of the needle’ heel, and what appeared to be a £26 jeans belt from M&S.
Meghan and Harry excitedly chatted to well-wishers during a royal-style walkabout, their first official public appearance together in the UK since the Queen’s funeral in 2022.
They were greeted with cheers, whoops and shouts of ‘I love you, Meghan’ as they stepped out of their black Range Rover Sport 4×4.
The couple also posed for selfies with well-wishers, with Harry putting a protective arm around his wife on several occasions. At one point, Meghan appeared to show someone in the crowd her jewellery.
One fan, who did not want to give her name, said: ‘I love the Royal Family. I was going to come shopping in town, so I thought I would come and try to see them. I want Harry and Meghan to know we still love them. I’m so glad all these people have turned up.’
The Duchess beamed as she shook hands and took selfies with fans, including one boy who asked if she lived in a mansion and another who wanted to know whether she had a Bentley.
Meghan does not see herself as a working royal and is instead more of a ‘full-time mum and entrepreneur’, a friend has said, adding that public events like this with her husband will be ‘rare’ for her.
Meghan took bunches of yellow and white flowers from supporters who had waited to see her and Harry this morning.
The couple were given balloons, including one in the shape of a unicorn.
The duke stopped to tell one woman he liked her bright pink jacket and that it was ‘very nice’ to see everyone.
‘I just said, ‘I’ve always wanted to meet you. It’s an honour’.
‘She looks amazing up close. She was dressed amazingly.
‘I gave her a card, and she folded up and put it in her pocket so she can read it later.’
Ms Davis said she wrote on the card that Meghan ‘really inspires’ her.
Harry and Meghan were greeted by the chief executive of the Community Recording Studio, Trevor Rose, before they entered the building.
The crowd cheered excitedly when the couple disappeared out of view into the community hub.
Emily Davis, 21, who gave Meghan a bunch of yellow flowers said it was an honour to meet her.
Ms Davis told the Press Association: ‘I gave her flowers, and I shook her hand.
‘I just said, ‘I’ve always wanted to meet you. It’s an honour’.
‘She looks amazing up close. She was dressed amazingly.
‘I gave her a card, and she folded up and put it in her pocket so she can read it later.’
Ms Davis said she wrote on the card that Meghan ‘really inspires’ her.
Shani Saviciene, who gave Meghan a healing crystal for ‘positivity’ said she begged to speak to the duchess.
The 30-year-old told the Press Association: ‘Meghan was actually on that side (of the pavement). I don’t know if she realised there were fans on this side.
‘So then I tapped one of her team members and begged them ‘please, please, please can she come to this side?’
‘And then she did, and I said to her, ‘I love you so much. I’ve given one of your team, like, a healing crystal for you’, and she was really grateful.’
Asked why she gave Meghan a crystal, Ms Saviciene said: ‘I just want her to be protected, uplifted, and just have as much positivity around her as possible.’
Meghan revealed that Princess Lilibet has been enjoying gymnastics.
The duchess joined young girls for a confidence-building and bracelet-making workshop where they discussed what makes them feel most like themselves.
When one youngster said: ‘I like it when I do gymnastics.
Meghan replied: ‘Oh yeah. Our daughter is doing that too right now. She loves it.’
The duchess, whose Netflix lifestyle With Love, Meghan show centred around hosting and cooking, added: ‘I feel most like myself when I’m with my family and also when I’m cooking. I love doing that. I love to cook.’
The duchess also gave the girls advice, saying: ‘We have to remember to talk to ourselves like we talk to our best friends. It’s really important to be just as kind to yourself.’
Shaghofta Akhtar, 53, had bought a bunch of flowers to hand to Meghan at the second venue. She described her as the ‘Queen of hearts’ and compared the Duchess to late the Princess Diana.
‘Meghan brought me out here today. I just wanted to come and show her our love, that the people of Nottingham love her. And I don’t think she knows if and I think sometimes you just need to hear people tell you this.
‘I love her because I think she is an ambassador of peace. I think she stands for democracy. She stands for peace and she is inspirational.’
Asked about the fact she was no longer a royal she said: ‘because she is an ambassador for peace, she doesn’t need a title. They don’t need any titles. I loved princess Di, she touched me, and I think Meghan is going down that road too because she is touching people without needing a title. And she is strong enough to do her own thing.’
2017: Harry and Meghan in Nottingham, when he again put his arm around his then fiancee
2026: Harry and Meghan were last together in the city nine years ago – but again Harry had his arm around his wife
2017: The couple chose Nottingham for their first engagement as a couple
2026: The couple are no longer working royals but their engagement had that distinct style
2017: Meghan Markle meets well-wishers as she arrives with Prince Harry at the Nottingham Contemporary
2026: There were flowers again for Meghan nine years on
It marks the first time in four years that Meghan has appeared publicly at events in the UK, the last time being the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.
The Sussexes are visiting three charities, starting with the Community Recording Studio, where Meghan is due to take part in an acting workshop.
The couple will then visit the Himmah food bank alongside the Hubb Community Kitchen and Epic Partners, a charity offering sports mentoring for children aged four to 18.
Hubb, which was established after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 lives in June 2017, has long been a passion project for Meghan. She wrote the foreword to its 2018 cookbook, Together.
There is a ‘really nice synergy’ in their return to Nottingham nine years on, a source said, while adding that things have changed since they were last there.
And Meghan, who was out for lunch with her royal wedding hairdresser in London yesterday, will not be making these kinds of visits often.
‘Her public appearances will be relatively rare. She is reading a lot of scripts at the moment. If she has time left after all of that, she will do some charity work,’ the Sussex source said.
‘But she’s not a working royal. Her day isn’t organised around a programme pulled together by a private secretary. She’s a full-time mum and entrepreneur, and that alone takes up a lot of time and work.’
In keeping with traditional royal engagements, the scores of photographers and journalists gathered outside were kept behind barriers, as were the crowds of well-wishers, some clutching flowers, with one youngster holding a unicorn balloon, while media access inside the event was pooled.
Harry and Meghan are waiting to hear whether they will be granted taxpayer-funded security, with the duke said to fear a delay after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a review of security measures for the royal family and public figures in the wake of the death of Reform UK’s justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe.
The duke and duchess are said to consider themselves ‘public figures’ and were caught off-guard by the letter, authorised by the King, outlining their position.
Meghan is hoping to launch As Ever in the UK by the end of this year.
Harry is focused on his charity work, especially Invictus, while Meghan is more focused on business and her potential return to acting.
‘They have different professional priorities,’ one source told the Telegraph.
‘Prince Harry’s is his philanthropic work and public service. Her focus is on her family and children, followed by her business, followed by rebooting her acting career.’
Meghan has been busy in the past fortnight, launching a new advent calendar and a collaboration with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai.
She is donating a day’s proceeds of all jam and tea sales from her Californian brand As Ever to Yousafzai’s charity, the Malala Fund, in honour of the International Day of the Girl on October 11.
Although the Daily Mail’s Alison Boshoff revealed that this may end up being less than the £2,000 value of the trousers she wore when they met at Claridge’s last week.
On Sunday, alongside a shot of her grinning at that tea, as Malala looked solemn, the Duchess shared a joint statement from the pair.
‘When we support the girls today, we empower the women of tomorrow. Access to education is the key to unlocking this,’ she said.
She then told her 4.9million followers: ‘This International Day of the Girl, in partnership with Archewell Philanthropies, 100 per cent of net proceeds from As Ever jams and teas will support Malala Fund and its vital work to ensure every girl has access to free safe quality education. Tea for Two has never felt so good. Shop at asever.com’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pose for photographs with members of the public
Meghan was moved when a 90-year-old woman showed her a photo of their visit to the city nine years ago
Meghan’s first UK engagement was at Community Recording Studio (CRS), a youth and community charity that offers a wide range of creative activities, sports, mentoring and youth development programmes
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaks with members of the public as she arrives for a visit to The Community Recording Studio
Harry was in his element as he spoke to local schoolchildren
Harry and Meghan spent some time meeting well-wishers
The Duchess then spoke to the team running the Community Recording Studio
Meghan hugs a founder of the charity
Inside the couple were treated to an acting workshop
Meghan spoke to schoolchildren at the event
Meghan enjoyed a jewelry making session during a visit to The Community Recording Studio
The couple
Her office this week declined to confirm any sales figures from Sunday.
Even a generous extrapolation from the only available data suggests a day of proceeds from tea and jam will add around £1,900 to the Malala Fund coffers.
Despite becoming increasingly active in the UK, including through a number of visits to London, the couple have yet to meet King Charles and remain estranged from the Prince and Princess of Wales.
One source claimed the Sussexes have taken their Christmas plans into their own hands because they ‘know they’re not invited’ to Sandringham.
It would be ‘too difficult and awkward’ to spend Christmas with the Royal Family, a friend said.
‘They won’t be having Christmas with the Royal Family. How could that even work? They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they’re not going to be invited, and they’re not waiting for an invitation.
‘For Thanksgiving and Christmas, they will do whatever Doria wants to do. They would love her to come over to the UK and spend it with them here, but they will be wherever she wants to be.’
The friend added: ‘He [Harry] has not yet seen the King, who is still in Scotland, but it will happen.’
The couple are expected to spend the festive period with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, 70, who lives less than a two-hour drive from their Montecito home.
Meghan with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Malala after a ‘private’ tea at Claridge’s last week
Another friend told the Daily Mail that the Sussexes are trying to ‘keep their heads down between now and Christmas’, when they will return to California for the holidays.
Harry and Meghan are understood to be planning to spend school holidays and half-term breaks either in California or Portugal, where they also own a property.
Ms Ragland has been a constant presence in the family’s life since the couple stepped down as senior royals and relocated to the United States in 2020. She lives in a bungalow in an affluent residential area outside Los Angeles and has formed a particularly close bond with her grandchildren.
As for Archie and Lilibet’s other grandparents, King Charles and Queen Camilla saw them in person for the first time in four years at Highgrove in July.
It is understood Harry remains in contact with his father by phone. The monarch is enjoying an extended summer and autumn break at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Harry and the Prince of Wales have not spoken since 2022.
