Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their non-royal engagement today (Image: undefined)
Meghan Markle landed in one of the most deprived parts of the UK on Thursday wearing a £1,400 wool and cashmere coat.That’s the start of the story but there’s so much more.
As the editor of the Nottingham Post, I know this city well and I know how hard people work to help those who are struggling.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, parachuted into Nottingham on Thursday, and while the small crowd of loyal fans waiting for them were smiling, thousands more will be fuming at the gall of their pseudo-Royal circus.
It stands in stark contrast to their 2017 visit to the city, where hundreds of people lined a narrow city centre street to catch a glimpse of the freshly-engaged couple. It took them a long time to work the crowds that time. You have to question what Harry and Meghan’s fan base looks like now.
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Their tour around community projects in St Ann’s, Hyson Green and Sneinton was worthy and no doubt gave a boost to those people who give their all to these organisations year in, year out. It cannot be argued that the couple have handed over significant amounts of cash to these projects.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their non-royal engagement today (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis/the Press Association)
But once they’ve jaunted back to their cosseted life – what is left?
There will be a cost to the Nottingham taxpayer, how much exactly we don’t know. City Council Community Protection Officers were diverted from other duties to provide crowd reassurance in St Ann’s outside the Community Recording Studio.
Council-owned barriers were placed outside to keep the crowd in check. A single Nottinghamshire Police car blocked the road.
In Sneinton, while the couple visited Epic Partners, an unmarked police car blocked the road. For balance, I should tell you that a plastic chair with a sign saying “no one past this point please” was also used (ineffectively) for crowd control in Sneinton.
None of this is free. So why are we paying for the activities of what Buckingham Palace itself calls ‘private citizens’?
Nottingham has had its struggles. We’ve just emerged from effective bankruptcy as a city, which got so bad the Government commissioners had to step in. The fountains in Old Market Square can’t be repaired because it would cost too much. The Council House needs a good scrub and repairs to the roof, and our old Debenhams has been empty since 2021, while yobs often run riot inside its empty corridors.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their non-royal engagement today (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Our tram drivers are going on strike for more pay this winter, a move that will probably cripple the city. Such is life on the streets that our council felt moved to ban balaclavas.
Despite all this, things are just starting to look up. For the first time in living memory, council tax will be frozen. The site of the former Broadmarsh shopping centre is now a green oasis in the centre of the city. A huge £20m underspend has been earmarked for youth services and libraries are extending their opening hours again.
The city council seems to have a vision and is working hard to drag Nottingham out of the bad times.
Back to Meghan’s coat. I highlight this because St Ann’s is one of the most deprived areas in the country, let alone Nottingham. Nearly 80 per cent of children live in low-income families.
Buying school uniform is a struggle, never mind stepping out in a coat that costs more than their household brings in every month. Harry’s outfit was probably equally expensive, but it’s harder to identify via a Google search – this is not just a poke at Meghan.
The average household income in St Ann’s is £27,000 a year. The child poverty rate in St Ann’s and Hyson Green sits at 45 per cent.
The reaction to their visit in our newsdesk email has been overwhelming. And not in a positive way. We have been reminded at all hours today by people all over the world that the couple are private individuals. One even pointed out: “You may have private citizens lurking around looking for attention so beware.”
When I think about what Nottingham really needs right now, it’s the quiet strength of people who are there continually and invest time and energy in young people and families.
One particular encounter summed everything up for me today. In Hyson Green, well-wishers had taken time out of their day to wait for a glimpse of the couple on Gregory Boulevard outside the Himmah Hub community kitchen.
Yet, after the cooking session inside, the Duke and Duchess were quietly escorted out of a rear exit for their next stop. They left a street of waiting fans disappointed – some still clutching flowers they hoped to give them.
For all the talk of community support, when the circus packs up and moves on, the people who actually live here are left standing on the pavement, holding flowers, waiting for a reality that has already driven away.
‘I Know Nottingham Inside Out’ – Why Harry and Meghan’s Visit Has Divided Local Opinion
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest visit to Nottingham has reignited debate about the couple’s place in British public life, with critics questioning whether their appearances genuinely reflect the priorities of the communities they visit. While supporters welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with smiles, photographs and emotional greetings, others remain sceptical about the attention surrounding their activities.
For people who know Nottingham well, the debate extends beyond the royal family. It concerns the challenges facing local residents, the work of community organisations and whether a visit by internationally recognised public figures can make a lasting difference to people’s lives.
The couple’s programme included visits to community organisations supporting young people, families and people experiencing hardship. Their appearance attracted considerable media attention, but the reaction was not entirely positive. The controversy reflects a wider disagreement about the Sussexes, whose decision to leave senior royal duties in 2020 continues to influence how their public appearances are received.
Some critics believe the couple should concentrate on their private lives rather than seeking attention through visits to Britain. Supporters argue that their charitable work deserves to be judged on its practical impact rather than their complicated relationship with the monarchy.
The contrasting responses illustrate why even a relatively short visit can become a national talking point.
Nottingham Is More Than a Royal Backdrop
Nottingham is a city with a strong identity, a rich industrial and cultural history, and communities facing a variety of social and economic challenges. Like other British cities, it has neighbourhoods where residents experience financial pressures, difficulties accessing services and uncertainty about opportunities for younger generations.
Community organisations play an important role in responding to those challenges. They provide practical assistance, create opportunities for young people and help families who might otherwise struggle to access support.
For residents who have spent years working, raising families or volunteering in Nottingham, the city’s needs are immediate and personal. They are concerned with housing, employment, public transport, health services, neighbourhood safety and the opportunities available to their children.
Against that background, a visit from Harry and Meghan can be interpreted in different ways.
Some residents may welcome the attention because it gives local charities an opportunity to explain their work to a much larger audience. Others may question whether the media coverage surrounding the couple overshadows the people who work in those organisations throughout the year.
The important distinction is between the publicity generated by a visit and the tangible benefits that follow it.
A high-profile appearance can introduce an organisation to potential donors, volunteers and supporters. But lasting improvements depend on sustained funding, effective services and the ability to respond to local needs long after the cameras have disappeared.
For Nottingham, the value of the visit should ultimately be assessed through the organisations involved and the communities they serve, rather than through the intensity of the royal debate.
Why Harry and Meghan’s Visit Attracted So Much Attention
Nottingham has a special place in the Sussexes’ public history. In December 2017, Harry and Meghan made one of their first joint public appearances in the city after announcing their engagement.
Their return therefore offered an opportunity to revisit familiar surroundings and reconnect with organisations involved in community work.
During the more recent visit, the couple met people connected with the Community Recording Studio, Himmah Hub and Epic Partners.
These organisations work in different areas, including opportunities for young people, support for families and assistance for people experiencing food insecurity.
At Himmah Hub, the couple participated in activities connected with preparing food and supporting people in need. They also met members of a community cooking initiative associated with Meghan’s involvement in the cookbook Together, published in 2018.
Supporters viewed these encounters as evidence that the couple continue to maintain relationships with charitable projects. They welcomed the opportunity for organisations to receive attention from a global audience.
Critics, however, questioned whether the visit would translate into meaningful long-term assistance. Some remain uncomfortable with the couple’s public profile and believe their charitable activities cannot be separated from the publicity surrounding their departure from royal duties.
Those opposing views have helped turn a community visit into a discussion about celebrity, responsibility and the role of public figures.
‘Thousands Will Be Fuming’ – But What Do Locals Really Think?
Claims that thousands of Nottingham residents are angry about the visit should be treated cautiously unless supported by representative polling or documented evidence.
A handful of interviews, social media comments or critical statements cannot establish the views of an entire city. Nottingham contains people with different political opinions, personal experiences and attitudes towards the monarchy.
Some residents may strongly dislike the Sussexes. Others may support them, while many may have little interest in their activities.
This diversity matters because public reactions to royal figures are often amplified by headlines that focus on the most provocative comments.
A resident who objects to Harry and Meghan’s appearance may have several reasons for doing so. They might disagree with the couple’s handling of family disputes, question their use of royal titles or simply feel that the media gives them too much attention.
Another resident may welcome the visit because a local charity received valuable publicity. Someone else might regard the event as largely irrelevant to the city’s everyday concerns.
None of these perspectives should automatically be presented as the dominant view without evidence.
The most useful question is not whether every local resident supports or opposes the couple. It is whether the organisations involved receive practical benefits and whether the visit contributes positively to their work.
That approach places the focus on outcomes rather than assumptions about public opinion.
The Cost-of-Living Pressure Facing Local Communities
For many households, the priorities of daily life remain far removed from royal controversies.
Food prices, housing costs, energy bills and the availability of secure employment can place significant pressure on family budgets. When money is tight, community food projects and local support services can become essential sources of assistance.
Organisations such as Himmah Hub operate in a wider environment in which charities often face competing demands for limited resources. They may need to support more people while managing rising operating costs and relying on donations, grants and volunteers.
High-profile visitors can help draw attention to those pressures. Media coverage may encourage people to donate, volunteer or learn more about the services available in their area.
However, publicity alone cannot resolve structural problems such as inadequate housing, insecure employment or insufficient public funding.
Residents who are struggling financially may reasonably ask whether attention generated by a celebrity visit leads to lasting improvements. That question should be directed towards measurable outcomes rather than assumptions about the visitors’ motives.
If the visit results in stronger partnerships, additional donations or increased public awareness, the organisations may benefit. If attention fades without meaningful follow-up, its practical value may be more limited.
The evidence of what happens afterwards is therefore more important than the photographs taken during the event.
The Sussexes’ Complicated Relationship With Britain
The response to the Nottingham visit cannot be understood without considering Harry and Meghan’s departure from senior royal duties.
In 2020, the couple announced that they would step back from their previous roles and subsequently established their life in California. They pursued independent commercial, media and charitable projects while continuing to attract intense international interest.
Their decision generated extensive debate. Supporters argued that they needed greater independence and the freedom to make decisions outside the traditional royal structure. Critics felt that their subsequent public discussions of royal life deepened family disagreements and damaged relationships.
Harry’s memoir, Spare, and the couple’s interviews brought private disputes into the public arena. Their accounts raised questions about the pressures of royal life, the treatment of family members and the relationship between public duty and personal privacy.
Those issues remain contested. Some people regard the couple’s statements as necessary explanations of their experiences, while others believe sensitive disagreements should have remained private.
Consequently, their return to Britain is rarely treated as an ordinary charitable visit. Even when the programme focuses on community work, coverage often revisits the history of their departure and their relationship with the wider Royal Family.
For critics, that history shapes whether they believe the couple should receive extensive attention. For supporters, it should not prevent them from helping organisations or maintaining personal relationships in Britain.
What Local Charities Need From High-Profile Visitors
Community organisations can benefit from prominent supporters, but their needs extend far beyond a few hours of publicity.
They require stable funding, dependable volunteers, suitable facilities and partnerships with public bodies and other service providers. They also need to ensure that any public attention reflects the experiences and priorities of the people they support.
A celebrity visit can provide a platform for explaining those needs. It can also create opportunities for new relationships with businesses, charitable foundations and individual donors.
Yet there are practical considerations. Preparing for a high-profile event takes staff time, and organisations must balance the visit with their ordinary responsibilities. Media interest can sometimes focus more on the famous visitors than on the people delivering services.
The most effective partnerships are those in which the visitors help advance an organisation’s objectives rather than making the event primarily about themselves.
That does not mean every visit must involve a large financial donation. Raising awareness, encouraging volunteering and helping an organisation communicate its mission can also be valuable.
But those benefits should be assessed realistically, with attention to what the organisation actually gains.
For Nottingham’s charities, the key issue is whether the visit helps them continue serving their communities after the headlines have moved on.
Could the Visit Improve the Sussexes’ Public Image?
Harry and Meghan remain internationally recognisable figures, and charitable work provides one way for them to maintain relationships with Britain.
Their supporters may see community visits as an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to causes that matter to them. Meeting volunteers and beneficiaries can also provide a more personal setting than interviews or televised discussions about royal disagreements.
Nevertheless, a single appearance is unlikely to settle longstanding arguments about the couple.
People who strongly oppose them may continue to question their motives. Those who support them may interpret the same visit as evidence of their charitable commitment.
The effect on public opinion will depend on a wider range of factors, including their future conduct, the quality of their charitable partnerships and their relationship with the British public.
It is also possible that many people will continue to pay little attention to the controversy.
For that reason, claims of a decisive public backlash should be distinguished from evidence of individual criticism. A provocative headline can attract attention without proving that opinion has shifted across the country.
The couple’s long-term reputation will depend on more than one event in Nottingham.
The Real Test Comes After the Cameras Leave
The strongest argument for judging the visit on its merits is that the needs of local communities do not disappear when public figures leave.
Young people still need opportunities to develop their skills. Families experiencing financial hardship still need access to support. Volunteers and charity workers still have to manage daily responsibilities, often with limited resources.
If the visit helps those organisations reach new supporters, establish useful partnerships or secure additional assistance, it may provide lasting value.
If it generates attention without meaningful follow-up, the benefits may be more limited.
The same principle applies to criticism. Disapproval of Harry and Meghan’s public image does not automatically establish that their visit harmed the city, just as a warm reception does not prove that it transformed local services.
A fair assessment requires evidence of what the event achieved.
Nottingham residents are entitled to their own views about the monarchy, celebrity culture and the Sussexes’ decisions. They are also entitled to expect that discussion about their city recognises its people and institutions rather than treating the entire community as a backdrop for a national argument.
Ultimately, the question is not whether every resident welcomes Harry and Meghan. It is whether their presence contributes anything useful to the organisations they visit and the people those organisations serve.
The couple may continue to attract both criticism and support, but Nottingham’s community work will carry on regardless. Its success will depend on the dedication of local people, the resources available to them and the practical support they receive.
That is the measure that matters long after the headlines fade.