Prince Harry caught playing with Meghan's ponytail during visit to Nottingham before revealing son Archie 'hates math' - while Lilibet 'loves' gymnastics

Prince Harry was caught playing with Meghan's ponytail during their visit to Nottingham yesterday - before revealing his son Archie 'hates math' at his 'new school'. 

A video showed the Duke of Sussex, 42, stroking his wife's hair as they carried out a series of faux-royal engagements, including at the youth charity Epic Partners.

Footage showed Harry running his hand over Meghan's long ponytail as they sang 'Happy Birthday' to one of the charity's staff members, Michaela Castillo.

It was just one of the Duke's affectionate gestures towards his wife during yesterday's outing, as they decorated cupcakes with icing and toured the charity that offers sports mentorship to children aged between four and 18.

The couple also held hands and exchanged tender glances as they carried out a series of royal-style engagements in their first joint public appearance since returning to the UK with their children.

Although Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, did not accompany their parents to Nottingham on the school day, it was clear they were on Harry and Meghan's mind.

The Duchess said Lilibet 'loves gymnastics' while Prince Harry told a royal fan that their son Archie 'doesn't like math' as he slipped the Americanism of maths into his conversation.

During a bracelet-making workshop at Epic Partners, one of the young participants told Meghan 'I like it when I do gymnastics' in a discussion that appeared to be about their favourite hobbies.

The former Suits actress replied: 'Our daughter's doing that too, right now.' 

Meghan also shared: 'I feel most like myself when I'm at home with my family and also when I'm cooking. I love doing that, I love to cook.'

Prince Harry's wife then asked the girl whether she enjoyed 'experimenting in the kitchen' and was met with an enthusiastic 'yeah!'. 

Meanwhile, the Duke confessed his son Archie wasn't a fan of math, using the American term rather than saying 'maths' during his conversation with a group of school children. 

Prince Harry, who struggled with the subject himself, told them how Prince Archie sweetly asked whether he could be enrolled in a school that 'doesn't do math' after moving to the UK. 

In the video, posted on X, Harry added: 'And then he went to this new school and on the first day, on the first class, guess what it was? Math!' 

Harry has previously said both Archie and Lili are 'happy in school' in an interview with Canadian network CTV. 

After completing a charity skydive outside Toronto, he told CTV that it was 'great to be back on British soil' and that his children are 'happy in school'. 

Since Harry and Meghan returned to the UK after six years in California, they have been embroiled in a public spat with Buckingham Palace about their status, and their children have moved schools after their security team raised concerns about the school run. 

Elsewhere, Meghan Markle and Harry shared an emotional reunion with four women who cooked for grieving families in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.

They kissed, hugged and held hands with the Grenfell 'ladies', who helped feed families devastated by the 2017 tragedy that claimed 72 lives.

The touching reunion came as the couple visited a food poverty charity in Nottingham, where the women had been invited to join them for a special lunch.

Meghan has maintained a close relationship with the community cooks, having made regular private visits to see them following the devastating blaze in west London.

Their work later inspired a community cookbook championed by the Duchess, with proceeds helping to support the women and their charitable efforts.

The Sussexes were greeted by cheers from around 50 well-wishers as they arrived at Himmah Hub, a former Methodist church which has been transformed into a centre supporting people struggling with food poverty.

Yesterday's engagements in the East Midlands come almost a decade after Harry and Meghan carried out their first royal visit together in Nottingham after announcing their engagement. 

The scenes looked identical to their walkabout in the city almost a decade ago - although the crowds appeared smaller in 2026.

However, Meghan was greeted by one familiar face, royal fan Irene Hardman, 90, who also met them in 2017. 

A video showed Irene presenting Meghan with a framed photo from the day as the Duchess gushed:  'Oh my gosh how sweet is that. That was our very first walkabout. What a great memory.'

Irene kissed Meghan's hand and told the Daily Mail: 'She said to me, "I remember it well". It was just after they had got engaged. She's an absolute delight, she's a pleasure.'

A crowd of 100 fans gathered to greet Harry and Meghan during their first joint public appearance since returning to the UK.

The duchess beamed as she shook hands and took selfies with fans, including one boy who asked if she lived in a mansion and another who wanted to know whether she had a Bentley.

The visit came after the Sussexes were described as 'private citizens' by the King, who was in Wales with the Queen for an official engagement at the same time. 

One of the Duchess' friends said Meghan does not see herself as a working royal and is instead more of a 'full-time mum and entrepreneur', adding that public events like this with her husband will be 'rare' for her.

The Sussexes were supporting a number of charities, including a community food project established in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and a recording studio where Meghan took part in an acting workshop.

Meghan flew the flag for British fashion in a £1,495 wool and cashmere coat from Joseph teamed with the brand's cashmere turtleneck jumper, costing £345, and the £695 mini loaf bag.

Her pencil skirt was the £175 Oliena from The Fold, in deep plum, made with 'Clever Crepe' that's specially designed to be crease-resistant.

She completed her look with £650 burgundy heels from London-based brand Jennifer Chamandi, with a distinctive 'eye of the needle' heel, and what appeared to be a £26 jeans belt from M&S.

They were greeted with cheers, whoops and shouts of 'I love you, Meghan' as they stepped out of their black Range Rover Sport 4x4.

The couple also posed for selfies with well-wishers, with Harry putting a protective arm around his wife on several occasions. At one point, Meghan appeared to show someone in the crowd her jewellery.

One fan, who did not want to give her name, said: 'I love the Royal Family. I was going to come shopping in town, so I thought I would come and try to see them. I want Harry and Meghan to know we still love them. I'm so glad all these people have turned up.'

The Duchess beamed as she shook hands and took selfies with fans, including one boy who asked if she lived in a mansion and another who wanted to know whether she had a Bentley.

In keeping with traditional royal engagements, the scores of photographers and journalists gathered outside were kept behind barriers, as were the crowds of well-wishers, some clutching flowers, with one youngster holding a unicorn balloon, while media access inside the event was pooled.

Harry and Meghan are waiting to hear whether they will be granted taxpayer-funded security, with the duke said to fear a delay after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a review of security measures for the royal family and public figures in the wake of the death of Reform UK's justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe.

The duke and duchess are said to consider themselves 'public figures' and were caught off-guard by the letter, authorised by the King, outlining their position.

Meghan is hoping to launch As Ever in the UK by the end of this year.

Harry is focused on his charity work, especially Invictus, while Meghan is more focused on business and her potential return to acting.

'They have different professional priorities,' one source told the Telegraph.

'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.'

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