Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet crowds as they leave recording studio in Nottingham
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first joint public appearances in the UK since returning to the country, with their visit to Nottingham last week attracting significant attention. However, the reaction to the couple’s return reportedly came as a surprise to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The couple were greeted by well-wishers as they visited Nottingham, where they made several public appearances on Thursday. But according to a royal expert who witnessed the visit, the response was not quite what they had anticipated.
Speaking on The Royals with Roya and Kate podcast, The Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah discussed the Sussexes’ return with executive editor Jeremy Griffin, revealing how the public reacted to their appearance.
Roya said: “From what I saw, they were very warmly received. Very warmly received.”
She added: “And I was told they were quite surprised by that. And I was told they were quite emotional about it because they weren’t expecting anyone to turn out.”
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Harry and Meghan visited the Community Recording Studio (CRS) in St Ann’s, Nottingham, as part of three public engagements in the city. Although the appearances were not official engagements on behalf of the Royal Family, Roya suggested they closely resembled traditional royal visits.
She explained that despite the Sussexes’ team reportedly expecting the appearances to remain private, crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the couple, alongside a significant media presence.
Roya said: “The very fact that a load of press did turn up, you know, an absolutely huge bank of photographers at that first engagement at the community recording studio, just goes to show that wherever Harry and Meghan go, you know, it’s going to get a lot of coverage.”
The visit also carried personal significance for the couple, as Nottingham was the location of their first joint public appearance following their engagement in 2017.
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Among those waiting to see them was 90-year-old Irene Hardman, who brought along a framed photograph of the Sussexes from that earlier visit.
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Meghan was visibly touched by the gesture, kissing Irene on the cheek and embracing her as they reminisced about the occasion.
The Duchess said: “Oh my gosh. How sweet is that? This was our very first walkabout.”
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Irene replied: “I remember you, my darling.”
The couple also greeted schoolchildren, charity representatives and other members of the public, with flowers, photographs and selfies forming part of their visit.
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Meghan was heard telling one woman: “Oh, it’s great to be back”, while Harry complimented another well-wisher’s bright pink jacket.
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The appearance marked Meghan’s first public events in Britain in four years, following her attendance at the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.
Harry and Meghan moved to the US after stepping back from their roles as working royals in 2020, triggering the crisis widely known as Megxit.
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The high-profile appearances were not official royal engagements. A letter to government stakeholders authorised by the King last month clarified that the Sussexes remain “private citizens”, although the visit appeared to bear many of the hallmarks of a traditional royal engagement.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Left ‘Quite Surprised’ as Public Make Their Feelings Clear
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been left surprised and emotional after receiving a warmer-than-expected welcome from members of the public during their recent visit to Nottingham. The reaction offered a reminder that, despite years of controversy surrounding their departure from royal duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to attract considerable interest and support in Britain.
The couple visited Nottingham on 15 October 2026, returning to a city associated with one of the earliest milestones in their relationship. Their joint appearance was their first public outing together in Britain since their recent return to the country, and it attracted schoolchildren, local residents, charity representatives and a substantial media presence. <Cite refs={[“turn418866search1″,”turn418866search0”]}/>
According to Roya Nikkhah, royal editor of The Times, the response was warmer than Harry and Meghan had anticipated. Speaking on The Royals with Roya and Kate podcast, she said the couple had been “very warmly received” and had reportedly been surprised by the number of people who turned out to see them.
Nikkhah also said they had been emotional because they had not expected such a turnout. Her account suggests that the reception was an encouraging moment for the couple as they seek to establish a public role in Britain outside the traditional structure of working royal engagements. <Cite refs={[“turn418866search0″,”turn418866search9”]}/>
However, the scenes in Nottingham do not necessarily represent the views of the entire British public. The reception was a local event involving people who chose to attend, while opinion polling has continued to show that attitudes towards the Sussexes remain divided.
A Return to a Familiar City
Nottingham holds particular significance for Harry and Meghan. In December 2017, shortly after announcing their engagement, they visited the city together during an official royal engagement. Their return nearly nine years later offered an opportunity to revisit that period of their lives, before their relationship with the Royal Family deteriorated.
On this occasion, their programme included a visit to the Community Recording Studio in St Ann’s, where they met people involved in community projects. The couple also spent time with young people, charity representatives and local supporters during their three engagements around the city. <Cite refs={[“turn418866search0″,”turn418866search1”]}/>
The atmosphere was described by observers as friendly, with members of the public offering flowers, requesting photographs and welcoming the couple back. Some supporters had followed their story for years, while others appeared to have joined the crowds because they were curious about the visit.
One particularly touching moment involved Irene Hardman, a 90-year-old supporter who brought a framed photograph of Harry and Meghan from their earlier Nottingham appearance. Meghan appeared delighted by the gesture, embracing Hardman and kissing her on the cheek as they recalled their first public walkabout together.
The Duchess reportedly exclaimed at the sight of the photograph, while Hardman greeted her affectionately. The exchange provided a personal connection between the couple’s earlier life as working royals and their present circumstances. <Cite refs={[“turn418866search0″,”turn418866search2”]}/>
For supporters, moments such as this offer a reminder of the couple’s public appeal and the relationships they built during their time representing the monarchy. For others, the visit raises questions about how Harry and Meghan intend to balance their continued links to Britain with their decision to step away from official royal duties.
The Public Reaction Was More Complicated Than It First Appeared
The crowds in Nottingham sent a visible message that Harry and Meghan still have supporters willing to turn out to see them. Yet it would be misleading to interpret one successful visit as proof that public opinion has shifted across the country.
A Reuters report published on 15 October noted that opinion polling had continued to show generally negative views of the couple among many Britons, with younger people tending to be more sympathetic. The report also described a lower-key reception than the large, flag-waving crowds that greeted them when they visited Nottingham as working royals in 2017. <Cite refs={[“turn418866search1”]}/>
These two realities can exist at the same time. A public figure can remain controversial nationally while receiving a genuinely warm welcome from people who attend a particular event.
The Nottingham visit also took place in circumstances different from those of a traditional royal engagement. Harry and Meghan were not representing the King, and their appearances were not official duties on behalf of the Royal Family. Their public work was undertaken in their own capacity. <Cite refs={[“turn418866search0″,”turn418866search6”]}/>
That distinction matters because the couple’s future in Britain is being shaped by their status as independent public figures rather than working members of the monarchy. The public may welcome them, criticise them or show little interest, but their activities are no longer part of the official royal programme.