Prince Harry and Meghan Make First Joint Appearances in England Since Stepping Back from Royal Duties

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are making their first joint public appearances in England since stepping back from royal duties six years ago, as the couple seek to rebuild their brand in Britain.

The couple visited three charities in Nottingham on Thursday, the city where they made their first joint appearance after announcing their engagement in 2017.

Their day included visits to the Community Recording Studio, which uses music and athletic programs to help young people; Himmah, central England’s largest food bank; and Epic Partners, which offers sports, education and mentoring programs for disadvantaged young people. Harry has been involved with the Community Recording Studio and Epic Partners for over a decade, and Meghan previously worked with Himmah on a community cookbook.

These events are being presented with touches of royal style, including an announcement featuring Harry and Meghan’s titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and a prearranged media pool to chronicle their movements. Their philanthropic venture, Archewell, which was often central when they lived in the U.S., was not prominently featured.

However, King Charles III, Harry’s father, has made it clear that the couple remain non-working members of the royal family. This status was accepted when they abandoned royal duties and moved to California. In a letter sent on behalf of the King to senior government officials shortly after Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. in September, the palace stressed that the couple would continue to refrain from using their royal titles and that any charity work they undertake would be as private citizens.

The decision to send and release the letter demonstrated concern among some palace officials that Harry and Meghan’s celebrity could allow them to become a parallel royal court, potentially competing with the Prince and Princess of Wales and other working royals for press coverage.

Harry and Meghan gave up their royal duties and moved to California more than six years ago, stating a desire to earn their own living. They later signed contracts with Netflix and Spotify. Relations with the rest of the royal family deteriorated as the couple alleged insensitive treatment by palace staff regarding Meghan’s mental health and leveled charges of racism and media manipulation at other family members.

Tensions have reportedly eased in recent months, with Harry expressing a desire for reconciliation with the King. Harry has stated he wants his children to have a chance to know their grandfather. King Charles III is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer discovered in 2024.

The couple and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are reportedly living in a private residence in the Cotswolds. Their return to the U.K. has not been without controversy, including Harry’s continued lobbying for publicly funded police protection, which was canceled when they relinquished their royal duties. Harry maintains that he and his family remain under threat due to his royal status, and security concerns recently led to the children changing schools.