The Duchess of Sussex told one woman in the crowd, “Oh it’s great to be back”, as she joined her husband in their first joint visit since their shock return to the UK.
Prince Harry and Meghan have been met by cheering crowds as they visit Nottingham, with the duchess handed several bouquets of flowers and met with shouts of “We love you”.
She was also handed a healing crystal while the Duke was seen animatedly chatting to a group of schoolchildren who had waited for their arrival.
Wearing a long burgundy coat and with her hair tied up, Meghan spent several minutes chatting to well-wishers outside in what marks her first UK public engagement since 2022.
The royal couple set up home in England in August, six years after quitting the monarchy as working royals and relocating to the US.
On Thursday, they will visit the city’s Community Recording Studio (CRS), food poverty community action group Himmah Hub, and Epic Partners, which supports young people through sports programmes and mentoring.
While the high-profile appearance is not an official royal engagement, the duke and duchess are said to consider themselves “public figures”.
It will be 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.
Key Points
- Harry and Meghan arrive in Nottingham
- In pictures: Sussexes greet adoring crowds in first joint visit since UK return
- Meghan 'reading a lot of scripts at the moment'
- Why ‘rebel city’ Nottingham has such a special place in Prince Harry and Meghan’s hearts
In pictures: Royal couple decorate birthday cupcakes
15:47 , Holly Evans
Harry and Meghan don't stop for photos as they end day of engagements
15:23 , Holly EvansPolice officers told people blocking the road to stand back while Harry and Meghan were driven away from Epic Partners.
The couple did not stop to speak to the crowd, while some people held up signs which said “Please can we take a photo with you?” and “We love you”.
Harry waved to his supporters while getting into a Range Rover.
In pictures: Crowds wait to take pictures with the royal couple
15:08 , Holly Evans
Sussexes arrive at third and final engagement
14:42 , Holly EvansThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at Epic Partners in Nottingham, the third and final stop in their visit.
Harry and Meghan were driven past a crowd of dozens of people who waited on the pavement to see them.
The crowd cheered and called out to the couple, some people holding flowers and flags, but Harry and Meghan went straight inside to meet people from the charity.
A community protection officer could be seen walking in the area when they arrived.
Why ‘rebel city’ Nottingham has such a special place in Prince Harry and Meghan’s hearts
14:34 , Holly EvansNottingham. It’s the city of Robin Hood, Lord Byron, DH Lawrence and Thomas Cranmer; the city of Bella Ramsey, Sleaford Mods and Paris Lees. A city of disruptors, mavericks and rebels with a cause, in other words; natural outliers who have, for generations, butted up against and challenged the status quo while standing up for what they believe in. Perhaps, then, it’s no surprise that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen to join their ranks, adopting this East Midlands hub as their surrogate spiritual home.
After all, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have famously broken the mould themselves in the eight years since they got married, defying the prevailing Royal mantra of “never complain, never explain” and taking aim at “The Firm” in a succession of explosive, tell-all documentaries alongside Harry’s ironically unsparing autobiography, Spare.
The pair have now cemented their Nottingham allegiance with the news that their first joint public outing since returning to the UK will take place there. It’s clearly a place of huge significance for the couple: back in 2017, they chose it as the location for their first public appearance together following the announcement of their engagement.
Read the full article here:
Why Nottingham is such a special place for Prince Harry and Meghan
Harry and Meghan leave the Himmah food bank
14:15 , Holly EvansThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex have now left the Himmah food bank and are heading towards their final engagement of the day in Sneinton.
They are due to spend time at Epic Partners, a charity that supports children and young people through sports, mentoring and education.
Meghan arrived in £1,500 coat, reports
13:55 , Dan Haygarth
According to The Telegraph, Meghan arrived at today’s events in a dark-brown wool-cashmere-blend coat by Joseph.
The coat is available to buy for £1,495 and, the newspaper reports, she paired it with a £650 pair of Jennifer Chamandi high-pointed pumps.
'I have to go see my ladies first'
13:45 , Dan Haygarth
Meghan and Harry took part in a cooking class at the Himmah Hub, their second stop in Nottingham.
It meant that the Duchess reunited with four women with whom she worked on a 2018 cookbook.
Meghan said: "I want to meet all of you, it smells amazing but I have to go see my ladies first”, the BBC reports.
In pictures: Harry and Meghan arrive at second event in Nottingham
13:40 , Dan Haygarth
Watch: Prince Harry and Meghan make first joint appearance since returning to UK
13:26 , Dan HaygarthIn focus: Why ‘rebel city’ Nottingham has such a special place in Prince Harry and Meghan’s hearts
13:12 , Dan HaygarthThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex are making their first joint UK public appearance in the same city where they made their debut following their engagement announcement. Helen Coffey looks why it holds so much significance for the couple.
Read below.
Why Nottingham is such a special place for Prince Harry and Meghan
King Charles greeted to loud chants of 'down with the Crown' in Wales
12:54 , Holly EvansThe King and Queen arrived at the Welsh Parliament to loud chants of “not my King” and “down, down, down with the Crown”.
Protesters waiting outside the Senedd held placards which read “abolish monarchy” and “down with the crown”.
The chanting could be heard clearly as Charles and Camilla walked up the Senedd steps to greet first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Huw Irranca-Davies, the Llywydd (presiding officer).
In pictures: Meghan shares heartfelt moments with well wishers
12:37 , Holly Evans
Harry and Meghan arrive at second event in Nottingham
12:34 , Holly EvansMeghan and Harry have arrived at their second event in Nottingham a tour of Himmah Hub, a food poverty community action group.
A crowd of around 50 people had gathered at the gates of the organisation to catch a glimpse of the couple.
Cheers went up as did dozens of camera phones as they walked into the building.
'It's nice to see you,' Prince Harry tells crowd
12:32 , Holly EvansHarry told the crowd “it’s nice to see you”, as the couple stopped for hugs and to shake hands as they left the Community Recording Studio.
The crowd cheered for the couple before one woman held Meghan, who was holding a colourful bunch of flowers, in a hug for several seconds.
As more people tried to greet her, Harry said “We’ve got to go. I’ve got to take her” before putting his hand on his wife’s shoulder.
Harry then responded to someone in the crowd who said “you’re lovely” by pointing at her and saying “you’re lovely”.
Meghan had a few more hugs before she blew a kiss and the couple left.
Watch: Harry and Meghan greet fans
12:25 , Holly Evans
Prince Harry and Meghan greet fans in first joint appearance since returning to UK
Princess Lilibet 'loves' gymnastics, Meghan reveals
12:21 , Holly EvansMeghan 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.”
In pictures: Royals inside Community Recording Studio
12:11 , Holly Evans
Elderly well-wishers come to see 'as nice as ever' Harry
11:55 , Holly EvansIrene Hardman, 90, and her friend Mary Cooper, 69, who met when Harry came to the Community Recording Studio in 2013, said the couple are “lovely people”.
Ms Cooper told the Press Association: “I met Irene standing outside here, waiting for Prince Harry to arrive.
“It’s very nice that they’d come back to the same place that Harry’s been to.”
Ms Hardman, who first saw the duke when he was a young child and has supported him since, said she touched his face when he walked past the crowd.
She told PA: “I said ‘you’re still as nice as ever Harry’. He said ‘thank you very much’.”
Meghan says 'It's great to be back'
11:39 , Holly EvansThe Duchess of Sussex told one woman in the crowd: “Oh it’s great to be back”.
At one point Meghan turned her attention to the most British of topics – the weather, telling one member of the public who had gathered in the sunshine: “We’ve got lovely weather today. We got lucky.”
Woman gives Meghan a healing crystal to 'protect and uplift' her
11:33 , Holly EvansShani Saviciene, who gave Meghan a healing crystal for “positivity” said she begged to speak to the duchess.
The 30-year-old said: “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.”
King Charles and Camilla to attend opening of Senedd for first time in five years
11:30 , Holly EvansMeanwhile, the King and Queen are due to attend the ceremonial opening of the Welsh Parliament on Thursday.
This marks the first time King Charles will attend the event as King.
He and Queen Camilla previously joined the ceremony, which takes place following a Senedd election, in 2021 alongside Queen Elizabeth II.
Read the full article here:
Charles and Camilla to attend opening of Senedd for first time in five years
Royal couple pictured inside Community Recording Studio
11:19 , Holly EvansPrince Harry and Meghan have now moved inside the Community Recording Studio, where they are set to learn about their work in providing access to music and recording facilities for young people.
The charity, which was founded in 1991, offers a broad range of creative activities, including sport, mentoring and youth development.
Harry has a long history with the organisation, as his first private visit to the charity took place back in 2013.
While living in the US, he has continued supporting the charity for several years, and made a visit to the community studio in September 2025, when he was in the UK for the annual WellChild Awards.
Well-wisher tells Meghan it is an 'honour' to meet her
11:13 , Holly EvansEmily Davis, 21, who gave Meghan a bunch of yellow flowers said it was an honour to meet her.
Ms Davis said: “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.
Balloon shaped like a unicorn and flowers handed to couple
11:05 , Holly EvansMeghan took bunches of yellow and white flowers from supporters who had waited to see her and Harry.
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.
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.
Harry jokes with schoolchildren
11:00 , Holly EvansA group of school children could be seen excitedly talking to Prince Harry as he made his way into his first engagement of the day.
"What class are you missing to be here?" Harry asks school pupils in attendance.
He spoke to them about their favourite subjects, and asked what they would be doing in their school holidays.
Meanwhile Meghan, wearing a long burgundy coat and with her hair tied back, asked for a photograph with two women who showed her a laminated picture.
In pictures: Sussexes greet adoring crowds in first joint visit since UK return
10:54 , Holly Evans
Crowds cheer and ask for selfies as Meghan and Harry greet fans
10:49 , Holly EvansCrowds could be seen cheering as Prince Harry and Meghan made their way towards the Community Recording Studio.
Shouts of “We love you Meghan” could be heard, as well as a number of people requesting photographs.
The Duke of Sussex could be seen chatting to a group of schoolchildren, who also asked the duchess the age of her son, while another woman presented a laminated photograph to Meghan who appeared visibly moved.
Harry and Meghan arrive in Nottingham
10:37 , Holly EvansThe royal couple have arrived at the Community Recording Studio as part of their day of engagements in Nottingham.
They are scheduled to spend 90 minutes with the charity, which Prince Harry has previously visited, and learn about its efforts to help engage local youth through music.
Supporters gather with flowers and balloons to welcome couple
10:30 , Holly EvansA small crowd of people gathered outside the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their first joint appearance since moving back to the UK.
A few supporters held flowers and balloons as they waited behind a barrier.
Margaret Langdon said the couple coming to Nottingham shows “it’s not all about London” and “small cities matter as well”.
The 67-year-old, from the Carlton area of the city, said : “I’m a big fan.
“They’ve come to Nottingham to see us so the least we could do is come out and see them.
“It’s nice to see Meghan, because it’s not very often you get a woman of colour in that position. So I’ve come out to support her.”
What are today's timings?
10:10 , Holly EvansPrince Harry and Meghan are set to carry out a number of engagements in Nottingham on Thursday, in their first joint appearance in the UK since 2022.
Community Recording Studio in St Ann’s - 10.25am to 11.55am
At their first stop of the day, the couple will visit the Community Recording Studio (CRS) in St Ann’s, a youth and community charity which helps young people access music and recording facilities.
Himmah Hub in Hyson Green - 12.20pm to 2.05pm
They are set to stop at the Himmah Hub for cooking classes and a meal and then on to the organisation’s foodbank, which provides community meals and practical support for those living in poverty.
Epic Partners in Sneinton - 2.25pm to 3.15pm
The final stop of the day is Epic Partners in Sneinton, a charity supporting children, young people and families in St Ann’s and Sneinton.
Meghan with Malala – and what is behind the duchess rebranding as a charity queen
10:03 , Holly EvansIt couldn’t have been more headline-grabbing if it had tried: The Duchess of Sussex met with Nobel Prize-winning activist Malala Yousafzai last week – for tea at London’s Claridge’s.
It had been Meghan’s first public outing in London since moving back to the UK, and as the pair sat in deep conversation in the hotel’s Art Deco Foyer and reading cafe, another diner uploaded footage of their “private” meet-and-greet to social media.
Meghan was then photographed outside the Mayfair hotel hugging Malala as they parted ways – and looking saintly in white Ralph Lauren “clown” trousers and an oversized camel coat resembling an extra in a school nativity play.
Read the full analysis here:
Meghan and Malala – and what is behind the duchess rebranding as a charity queen
Harry spotted at a Leicester Tigers rugby match
09:36 , Holly EvansSince returning to the UK, both Prince Harry and Meghan have been seen on a number of occasions, either at events or socialising in a private setting.
Last Friday, the Duke of Sussex was spotted in the stands at a rugby union match.
Harry watched Leicester Tigers face Gloucester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium in Leicester.
A video shared on Prem Rugby’s X account shows the duke wearing blue jeans, a dark coat and holding a pint as he took a seat in the stands.
Photographs show Harry, who is a rugby fan, with both hands in the air as he watched the match.
Royal couple waiting on taxpayer funded security decision
09:13 , Holly EvansPrince Harry and Meghan are currently 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 Sussexes pulled their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lili, out of their first British school in September after just two days, when heavy traffic in the area meant their private security team struggled to stay in a convoy during the school run.
Their team then criticised the “extraordinarily reckless” international paparazzi who were spotted looking into the grounds and monitoring children at the youngsters’ new school.
Visit comes days after Meghan's meeting with Malala Yousafzai
09:01 , Holly EvansOn Sunday, Meghan posted a picture on Instagram of herself and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai having afternoon tea to mark International Day of the Girl.
In the caption, she said the net proceeds from sales of her lifestyle brand’s jams and teas on the day, 11 October, would be sent to support the Malala Fund, a non-profit advocating for girls’ education.
The Duchess also launched a sweatshirt in collaboration with Moms Offering More, with the proceeds going towards organisations supporting mothers.
It comes as the couple re-establish themselves in the UK and continue their philanthropic endeavours outside of the royal family.
Meghan reportedly 'reading a lot of scripts at the moment'
08:45 , Holly EvansQuasi-royal visits will reportedly be “relatively rare” for Meghan, with the duchess focusing on her children, her As Ever lifestyle brand and rebooting her acting career.
“She’s reading a lot of scripts at the moment,” a source told The Telegraph.
The source added that Harry and Meghan had “different professional priorities”, saying: “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.
“Her public appearances will be relatively rare. She is reading a lot of scripts at the moment.”
They added that if Meghan had any time left, she would do “some charity work”, adding “she’s not a working royal” but a full-time mother and entrepreneur.
Rumours had abounded as to how former Suits star Meghan would spend her time in the UK, with speculation she was in talks for a role in the hit Netflix show The Gentlemen.
Meanwhile, a friend of Meghan’s told Hello! magazine the duchess was ready to “stick her head above the parapet” on the visit to Nottingham, adding “She’s up for it. There are still causes and there are still issues that Meghan is really passionate about supporting, and Nottingham is one of those.”
Why ‘rebel city’ Nottingham has such a special place in Prince Harry and Meghan’s hearts
08:39 , Holly EvansNottingham. It’s the city of Robin Hood, Lord Byron, DH Lawrence and Thomas Cranmer; the city of Bella Ramsey, Sleaford Mods and Paris Lees. A city of disruptors, mavericks and rebels with a cause, in other words; natural outliers who have, for generations, butted up against and challenged the status quo while standing up for what they believe in. Perhaps, then, it’s no surprise that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen to join their ranks, adopting this East Midlands hub as their surrogate spiritual home.
After all, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have famously broken the mould themselves in the eight years since they got married, defying the prevailing Royal mantra of “never complain, never explain” and taking aim at “The Firm” in a succession of explosive, tell-all documentaries alongside Harry’s ironically unsparing autobiography, Spare.
The pair have now cemented their Nottingham allegiance with the news that their first joint public outing since returning to the UK will take place there. It’s clearly a place of huge significance for the couple: back in 2017, they chose it as the location for their first public appearance together following the announcement of their engagement.
Read the full article here:
Why Nottingham is such a special place for Prince Harry and Meghan
What do we know about Thursday's visit?
08:36 , Holly EvansDuring the away day, Harry and Meghan will gather at youth and community charity CRS, with the duke meeting musician and poet Jah Digga, who attended CRS as a child, while the duchess will join young girls for a confidence-building and bracelet-making workshop.
Harry last visited the studio in St Ann’s in September last year, when he personally donated £1.1 million to BBC Children In Need to support young people affected by violence.
The visit to Himmah Hub will involve a cooking class and the packing of food parcel donations, with the event reconnecting Meghan with women from the Hubb Community Kitchen.
The duchess’s first solo project as a member of the royal family in 2018 was supporting a Hubb Community Kitchen cookbook by the cooks, who helped families affected by the Grenfell fire in London.
Epic Partners supports children, young people and families in the St Ann’s and Sneinton areas of the city through youth work, sport, mentoring and education.
Prince Harry and Meghan set to visit Nottingham
08:31 , Holly EvansThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to carry out their first joint engagements since their return to the UK.
Harry and Meghan are heading to Nottingham on Thursday for a run of three quasi-royal appearances.
The couple set up home back in England in August, six years after sparking the Megxit crisis and quitting the working monarchy for a new life in the US.
They will visit the city’s Community Recording Studio (CRS), food poverty community action group Himmah Hub, and Epic Partners, which supports young people through sports programmes and mentoring.
Although the high-profile events are not official royal engagements – with a letter to Government stakeholders authorised by the King last month clarifying the Sussexes remain “private citizens” – they are likely to bear all the hallmarks of such.
The duke and duchess are said to consider themselves “public figures” and were caught off-guard by the letter outlining their position.
