News24 | PHOTOS | Harry and Meghan back in Nottingham for first joint visit since UK return

Britain's Prince 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, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Phil Noble/Reuters

• Harry and Meghan appeared together in public for the first time since their surprise return to Britain, revisiting Nottingham where they made their maiden joint engagement in 2017.
• The couple visited three charities in the city, including a recording studio backed by Harry’s £1.1 million donation and a food-poverty charity supported by Meghan’s cookbook proceeds.
• Their relocation from California has faced difficulties including security concerns, a move of their children’s school, and paparazzi intrusion, though well-wishers greeted them warmly.’

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan appeared together in public on Thursday for the first time since they made a surprise return to Britain, returning to the city where they made their maiden joint official engagement nine years ago.

Harry, the younger son of King Charles, and Meghan shocked the monarch and other members of the royal family when they relocated from California to England two months ago with their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.

In their first joint public outing since then, the couple returned to Nottingham in central England, which they visited in 2017, shortly after it was announced they were getting married.

They began by visiting a recording studio run by a youth and community charity which has received support from a £1.1 million ($1.46 million) donation announced by Harry last year.

Later, they were to visit a charity that tackles food poverty, run by a group called Himmah, to which Meghan donated £10,000 from sales of a cookbook released to raise funds in the wake of London’s Grenfell Tower fire disaster.

The engagements conclude with a visit to another charity the couple have backed which supports young people and is linked to their previous visit in 2017.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during a visit to The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Joe Giddens/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrive for a visit to Himmah Hub, a community centre run by Nottingham charity Himmah, which supports people experiencing food poverty, in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Hannah McKay/Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, during a visit to The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Joe Giddens/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, poses for photos with well wishers as she departs with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (not pictured), following their visit to The Community Recording Studio, a youth and community charity supporting young people through creative activities, mentoring and youth development, in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Phil Noble/Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during a visit to Himmah Hub in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Annabel Lee-Ellis/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during a visit to Himmah Hub in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Annabel Lee-Ellis/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during a visit to The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Joe Giddens/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during a visit to The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Joe Giddens/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during a visit to The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, October 15, 2026.

Joe Giddens/Pool via Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, during a visit to The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Joe Giddens/Pool via Reuters

Harry and Meghan divide public opinion

Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have become deeply polarising figures since they stepped down from royal duties to move to California in 2020, going on to deliver scathing criticism of both the prince’s family and the royal institution itself.

Opinion polls show a majority of Britons hold a negative opinion of them, although young people are far more sympathetic.

On their visit to Nottingham nine years ago, they were met by large, cheering, flag-waving crowds. Thursday’s visit was a much lower-key affair, but the couple chatted with about 100 excited schoolchildren and well-wishers, joined by large numbers of media.

Meghan looked emotional as one woman handed her a large bouquet of flowers and gave her a hug.

“We just wanted to support you,” another well-wisher told her. “We wanted to be here ... we understand, we wanted you to know that we’ve shown you so much love.”

Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, holds flowers she received as she meets with people next to Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, upon their arrival 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, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Hannah McKay/Reuters

Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, shares a heartfelt moment with a well wisher as she departs with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (not pictured) following their visit to The Community Recording Studio, a youth and community charity supporting young people through creative activities, mentoring and youth development, in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Phil Noble/Reuters

Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, hugs a well wisher as she departs with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex following their visit to The Community Recording Studio, a youth and community charity supporting young people through creative activities, mentoring and youth development, in Nottingham, Britain, October 15, 2026.

Phil Noble/Reuters

When Harry made his first solo public appearance since their relocation, he declared it was “good to be back on British soil”, but their return has not been without difficulties.

The location of their new home has been kept private amid security concerns, and they are not living in a royal residence.

They had to move their children to a new school not long after they started term because of concerns about security, with the couple’s spokesperson also condemning the actions of “certain European paparazzi” intruding into their privacy.

READ | ‘The kids are happy’: Prince Harry says Archie and Lilibet are thriving at new school