Prince Harry and Meghan Markle return to Nottingham to highlight their new role in the UK

The couple resumes their public schedule this Thursday with three charitable events in Nottingham—a place with special significance for them.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will make their first joint public appearance this Thursday since returning to the UK in late August. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Nottingham to take part in three events focused on supporting young people, combating social exclusion, and community work. This agenda marks their return to the British public eye, six years after stepping down from their official royal duties.

The choice of Nottingham holds special meaning for the couple. It was in this very city that they carried out one of their first official joint engagements, in December 2017—shortly after announcing their engagement. At the time, Meghan was still preparing to join the royal family, and both enjoyed a level of popularity that seemed to promise a bright future for them within the institution. Nearly nine years later, they return under very different circumstances.

During the day, Harry and Meghan will visit the Community Recording Studio (CRS), a space that provides opportunities for young people through music and artistic expression. The Prince will meet with Jah Digga—a musician and poet who frequented the center during his childhood—while the Duchess will take part in an activity with young people designed to build personal confidence, which will include making bracelets.

Harry previously visited these facilities in September of last year. On that occasion, he made a personal donation of £1.1 million to a BBC Children in Need initiative aimed at supporting young people affected by violence.

Reconnecting with social causes

Their second stop will be the Himmah Hub, a community organization that works to combat food insecurity. There, the Sussexes will participate in a culinary activity and help prepare food donations. For Meghan, the visit will have a particularly personal dimension: she will be able to reconnect with women associated with the Hubb Community Kitchen, a charitable project she supported during her time as a member of the royal family.

In 2018, the American-born duchess championed a cookbook created by members of this initiative, which was established to assist families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire in London. That collaboration was one of her first independent projects after joining the royal family. The itinerary will conclude at Epic Partners, an organization that supports children, adolescents, and families through sports activities, educational programs, and mentorship.

Public engagements, but without official representation

The return of the Duke and Duchess raises a question that continues to spark debate. Although their engagements will resemble those of an institutional visit, they are not considered official royal duties. A statement authorized by King Charles III last month reminded government representatives that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens.

This clarification reportedly came as a surprise to the Sussexes, who view themselves as public figures and have continued their philanthropic work since moving to the United States in 2020. Their departure from the institution—popularly dubbed "Megxit"—marked the end of their roles as working members of the monarchy.

The visit also marks Meghan’s first public appearance in the United Kingdom since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. Harry, for his part, has returned on other occasions, including his attendance at the WellChild Awards last month.