The Duchess of Sussex declared “it’s great to be back” as Meghan and the Duke of Sussex were cheered at their first joint engagement on British soil since their return to the UK.
Harry and Meghan were welcomed to the Community Recording Studio (CRS) in St Ann’s, Nottingham, for a run of three quasi-royal public appearances in the city on Thursday.
The couple set up home back in England in August in a dramatic u-turn six years after sparking the Megxit crisis and quitting the working monarchy for a new life in the US.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham (Doug Peters/PA)
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The pair went straight to greet the crowds of well-wishers, just like a traditional royal walkabout – smiling, shaking hands, giving hugs and taking selfies with the members of the public.
The duchess was heard telling one woman in the crowd: “Oh it’s great to be back”.
At one point Meghan turned her attention to the most British of topics – the weather, telling one member of the public who had gathered in the sunshine: “We’ve got lovely weather today. We got lucky.”
Harry could be seen putting his hand on Meghan’s back and at one point the couple put their arms around each other.
The duke stopped to tell one woman he liked her bright pink jacket and that it was “very nice” to see everyone, and he also crouched down to speak to one youngster.
Meghan was seen to kiss one older lady on the cheek as the woman presented her with a gift.
Harry chatting to the crowds (Joe Giddens/PA)
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The crowd has cheered as the couple stepped from their dark-coloured Range Rover, before one woman shouted: “We love you Duchess Meghan, we love you.”
Meghan, wearing her hair in a ponytail, was dressed in a loose-fitting burgundy winter coat, while Harry was in a dark suit, with an open-necked white shirt.
Emily Davis, 21, who gave Meghan a bunch of yellow flowers said it was an honour to meet her.
Ms Davis told the Press Association: “I gave her flowers, and I shook her hand.
“I just said, ‘I’ve always wanted to meet you. It’s an honour’.
Harry and Meghan on their walkabout (Doug Peters/PA)
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“She looks amazing up close. She was dressed amazingly.
“I gave her a card, and she folded up and put it in her pocket so she can read it later.”
Ms Davis said she wrote on the card that Meghan “really inspires” her.
Inside the event, Meghan revealed that Princess Lilibet has been enjoying gymnastics.
The duchess joined young girls for a confidence-building and bracelet-making workshop where they discussed what makes them feel most like themselves.
Meghan joins a jewellery making session during the visit (Joe Giddens/PA)
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When one youngster said: “I like it when I do gymnastics.
Meghan replied: “Oh yeah. Our daughter is doing that too right now. She loves it.”
The duchess, whose Netflix lifestyle With Love, Meghan show centred around hosting and cooking, added: “I feel most like myself when I’m with my family and also when I’m cooking. I love doing that. I love to cook.”
The duchess also gave the girls advice, saying: “We have to remember to talk to ourselves like we talk to our best friends.
“It’s really important to be just as kind to yourself”.
The duchess had earlier been given a healing crystal for “positivity” from Shani Saviciene, who was waiting in the crowd.
Meghan inside the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham (Joe Giddens/PA)
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The 30-year-old told PA Meghan was “really grateful”.
Ms Saviciene said: “I just want her to be protected, uplifted, and just have as much positivity around her as possible.”
The Sussexes will also visit food poverty community action group Himmah Hub, and Epic Partners, which supports young people through sports programmes and mentoring.
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 appeared to bear all the hallmarks of such.
Meghan crouches down to meet a youngster (Doug Peters/PA)
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But the duke and duchess were 11 minutes’ late arriving by car.
They are being protected by their private security team during the event, and do not enjoy the benefit of the police convoys assigned to senior working royals.
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.
It marks 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.