Overwhelmed Meghan Markle kisses well-wisher after reunion: 'Talk about full circle'

Meghan Markle had a sweet reunion in Nottingham. As the Duchess of Sussex greeted the crowds on Thursday, she reunited with one well-wisher she'd met during her first-ever royal engagement nine years ago.

Irene Hardman, 90, greeted the royal on October 15 as Meghan and Prince Harry visited the city. According to the Daily Express' Emily Ferguson, Irene was holding a photograph from when she met the Duke and Duchess on their first joint visit to Nottingham in 2017. 

“Oh my gosh how sweet is that," Meghan said after seeing the photo. The Duchess then gave Irene a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh my gosh. This was our very first walkabout. Can you remind me your name?" Meghan said to her. The Duchess called the photo "a great memory."

"Talk about full circle," the As ever founder exclaimed. "Nine years ago. Oh my gosh, I remember this day so well. That is so special."

Meghan and Harry attended three events - one with the Community Recording Studio, another with the Himmah Hub and a third with Epic Partners - in Nottingham on October 15. The outing marked the couple's first joint public appearance since returning to the UK in late August. 

As Meghan remarked to Irene, Thursday was a "full circle" moment for the couple, who visited Nottingham just days after their royal engagement was announced in 2017. Upon their arrival at the Community Recording Studio (CRS) in St Ann's, Nottingham, the Duchess declared: "It’s great to be back."

This time around, however, the visit to Nottingham was not an official royal engagement. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and are no longer working members of the royal family. 

Following their return to British soil after six years of living in the US, it was confirmed that the Duke and Duchess would remain private citizens while in the UK. A letter issued by the Lord Chamberlain, at the King's direction, stated that the pair's "position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests."

The former Suits star is said to be exploring a return to acting. A source previously told HELLO!: "Her diary is full. It's the kids, As ever, acting and then supporting good causes in whatever time she has left over. But she's got a really good team around As ever, the children are a bit older, they are both in school full time.

"They've got the kids settled. Archie and Lili are really enjoying school. She is able to now stick her head above the parapet a little bit more. It's a case of having a little bit more time to re-look at her original career, her vocation as an actor."