Harry and Meghan prep for first joint public appearance since UK move

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to carry out their first joint engagements since their return to the UK.

Harry and Meghan are heading to Nottingham on Thursday for a run of three quasi-royal appearances.

The couple set up home back in England in August, six years after sparking the Megxit crisis and quitting the working monarchy for a new life in the US.

They will visit the city’s Community Recording Studio (CRS), food poverty community action group Himmah Hub, and Epic Partners, which supports young people through sports programmes and mentoring.

Although the high-profile events are not official royal engagements – with a letter to Government stakeholders authorised by the King last month clarifying the Sussexes remain ‘private citizens’ — they are likely to bear all the hallmarks of such.

The duke and duchess are said to consider themselves ‘public figures’ and were caught off-guard by the letter outlining their position.

It will be the first time in four years that Meghan has appeared publicly at events in the UK – the last time being the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.

In 2020, Harry and Meghan carried out their final official public royal engagement together, when they joined the royal family at the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey.

Quasi-royal visits will, however, be ‘relatively rare’ for Meghan, with the Duchess focusing on her children, her As Ever lifestyle brand and rebooting her acting career.

‘She’s reading a lot of scripts at the moment,’ a source told The Telegraph.

The source added that Harry and Meghan had ‘different professional priorities’.

‘Prince Harry’s is his philanthropic work and public service. Her focus is on her family and children, followed by her business, followed by rebooting her acting career,’ the source said.

‘Her public appearances will be relatively rare. She is reading a lot of scripts at the moment.’

They added that if Meghan had any time left, she would do ‘some charity work’.

Rumours had abounded as to how former Suits star Meghan would spend her time in the UK, with speculation she was in talks for a role in the hit Netflix show The Gentlemen.

Meanwhile, a friend of Meghan’s told Hello! magazine the Duchess was ready for the visit to Nottingham, adding: ‘She’s up for it. There are still causes, and there are still issues that Meghan is really passionate about supporting, and Nottingham is one of those.’

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