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Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have made their first joint public appearance in Britain since returning to the country, drawing enthusiastic crowds during a series of community visits in Nottingham on Thursday.
The couple received balloons and flowers from well wishers as they arrived at the Community Recording Studio, a charity that helps young people develop skills in film, video and music. They stopped to greet members of the public and pose for photographs, with Meghan telling one woman, "It's great to be back."
Inside the studio, Meghan joined a group of girls for a confidence building workshop that included making bracelets. When one participant spoke about enjoying gymnastics, the duchess shared that her daughter, Princess Lilibet, also loved the activity.
Meghan, whose lifestyle series With Love, Meghan explores cooking and hosting, also spoke about the activities that help her feel most comfortable in herself. She said spending time with her family and cooking were among the things she enjoyed most.
The Sussexes continued their visit at Himmah Hub, a community organisation tackling food poverty. The couple took part in cooking activities and helped prepare food parcels for donations. They also reunited with women who had cooked for families affected by the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017. The women had featured in a community cookbook supported by Meghan, who warmly embraced them during the reunion.
Their final engagement in Nottingham was at Epic Partners, a charity supporting children and young people.
The visit marks a significant moment for the couple, who left Britain for the United States in 2020 after stepping back from their roles as working members of the royal family. They returned to Britain in August with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after announcing plans to resettle there.
However, the couple are returning as private citizens and will not resume official duties on behalf of King Charles III. A letter issued by the king in September clarified that their charitable work should be regarded as a private undertaking.
Their departure from Britain followed tensions involving the royal family, as well as concerns they had raised about media intrusion, racism and online abuse.
Thursday's appearances were their first joint public engagements in Britain since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022. While their future arrangements remain under scrutiny, the Nottingham visit placed the focus on youth development, community support and charitable service rather than royal ceremony.
