Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'clung together like survivors' on joint outing

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put on a united front as they stepped out in Nottingham for their first joint engagement since returning to the UK.

It had all the hallmarks of a royal outing with the couple stopping to greet fans, accepting flowers, as they supported charity projects. Harry and Meghan beamed as they chatted with wellwishers, saying it was 'great' to be back. 

But there were some unlying tensions, according to one expert.

It had been four years since Meghan made a public appearance in the UK and there seemed to be some nerves as she and Harry stepped back into the spotlight.

The Duke, meanwhile, took on a protective stance, placing an arm around her shoulder at one point which Meghan "reciprocated by placing her arm around his waist, the 'double-cling' made it seem like they were clinging together as survivors," body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail.

She highlighted that Harry and Meghan used body language to project a message of joy about their return – but there was also an underlying tension from Harry and a desire to protect his wife. 

According to Judi, there were "facial expressions of delighted relief exchanged," while "Harry's flattened palm 'hail' gesture to the crowd looked designed to appear like an acknowledgement of their acceptance and ongoing love". 

There were further signs of unease, however.

"As Harry was in full flight, Meghan sat with one arm wrapped around her own torso in a self-embrace while the other hand was raised in a 'broken wing' gesture of performed vulnerability with the fingers touching her throat, another common sign of feelings of vulnerability. 

"As she looked at her husband, her eyes had a micro-expression of what looked like fear or worry, implying some less confident leakage among all the displays of their self-defined victorious return," she concluded. 

Public reaction Harry and Meghan's visit

A crowd of about 100 people turned out to greet Harry and Meghan at the Community Recording Studio (CRS), a youth charity in Nottingham.

Margaret Langdon, 67, from Carlton, said their visit showed "it's not all about London" and "small cities matter as well".

Kelsey, 12, was also there to welcome the couple, and even got an autograph from Meghan, who wrote: "Keep shining! All my best, Meg." 

Chloe Harris, 22, a student from Nottingham Trent University, said: "It wasn't overly busy, I was a bit late but still got a good view. There was a crowd of big Harry and Meghan fans shouting 'I love you' but fewer people than I thought there would be."

After the studio, the couple headed to Himmah Hub, a food poverty action group, by making their way to their final stop, Epic Partners, which supports disadvantaged youth through community-based interventions, sport, and mentoring.

Further friction with the royal family

Their outing is said to have caused further friction with the royal family. On the same day, King Charles and Queen Camilla headed to Cardiff to officially open the new term of the Senedd - Wales' parliament.

Prior to Harry and Meghan's outing, Charles formally reaffirmed via an official palace letter that they are non-working members of the royal family and must be treated as private citizens. 

The directive, sent on behalf of the King by the Lord Chamberlain to senior government and military officials, confirmed that Harry and Meghan do not carry out official engagements or represent the Crown. They also cannot use the styles of "His and Her Royal Highness".

Do Harry and Meghan want to return to royal life?

But there are questions following their outing in Nottingham. Some have suggested it signals their desire to return as working royals, while others believe they are still trying to forge ahead with their own vision to be 'half in and half out'.

Interestingly, a source close to the Sussexes told the Telegraph this week that Meghan does not intend to make regular public appearances. "Her focus is on her family and children, followed by her business, followed by rebooting her acting career," the source said, reiterating, "she's not a working royal".

Harry, however, does want to continue to make public visits and believes that he still has a public service role to play in the UK. And a source told HELLO! this week that the Sussexes "never agreed they wouldn't be half in half out" when they stepped back in 2020.

A friend of the couple told us "It doesn't trouble them. They never agreed they wouldn't be half in half out. That was what was decided and foisted upon them. 

"They're just living their lives and they can, because they're financially independent."