Harry and Meghan reunite with Grenfell 'ladies' on emotional return to Nottingham for first joint outing since UK comeback
Meghan greets well-wishers outside Nottingham's Community Recording Studio, telling fans "it's great to be back" at her first UK public appearance since the late Queen's funeral in 2022.Prince Harry with a young attendee at Epic Partners in Nottingham, as the couple's charity schedule prompted the palace to clarify the Sussexes are acting as private citizens, not working royals.
Prince Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, made three charity visits in Nottingham on Thursday — their first joint public engagements since returning to Britain in August after six years based in California. Around 50 well-wishers gave them an enthusiastic welcome outside the Himmah Hub food bank when they stepped out of a Range Rover, with Meghan telling fans 'it's great to be back'. Harry told the BBC it was 'great to be back in Nottingham too', and crouched down to chat with children in the crowd. The city carries special meaning for the couple: it was where they chose to make their first public appearance together after announcing their engagement in 2017.
Meghan hugged each of four Grenfell community cooks individually — Dayo Gilmour, Intlak Alsaiegh, Faiza Hayani Bellili and Leila Hedjem — with one telling her 'it's been too long' and Meghan responding 'at least five years'.
The couple also visited the Community Recording Studio in St Ann's, where Harry met Jah Digga, a musician and youth mentor who credits the charity with helping him leave gang life.
A friend of the Sussexes reportedly pushed back on claims they are resuming royal duties by stealth, saying: 'They never agreed they wouldn't be half in, half out — that was foisted upon them.'
