The Duchess of Sussex made her first official public appearance since moving back to the United Kingdom, attending a series of charitable events in Nottingham on a Thursday. Accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Sussex, the couple met with well-wishers and visited organizations focused on youth development and food poverty. The visit follows the family’s relocation from California to the Cotswolds in August.
The couple, who are no longer working royals, attended the events as private citizens and supporters of the specific projects. A spokesperson for the Sussexes stated that Nottingham holds significance for the pair, as it was the site of their first joint appearance following their engagement announcement in 2017. The Royal Household has categorized the couple as private citizens.
The day’s itinerary included a stop at the Community Recording Studio, a youth charity supported by Prince Harry since 2013. The couple also visited Himmah Hub, a charity addressing food poverty, where they participated in food preparation and met with women from the Grenfell community. A third engagement took place at Epic Partners, an organization providing mentoring and sports programs for young people. During a workshop, the Duchess mentioned that her daughter, Princess Lilibet, has recently begun taking gymnastics.
This public appearance follows the move of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the UK after six years in the United States. The children have changed schools following security concerns regarding the school run. The couple is currently accompanied by a private security team, but their return as full-time residents has triggered a review of their security status.
The transition involves a reconsideration of publicly funded protection by Ravec, the committee that oversees security for royals and high-profile individuals. The committee is evaluating the level of police protection now that they are residents rather than visitors.
The family is not expected to spend the upcoming Christmas holiday with the King at Sandringham. BBC News understands they are likely to spend it privately with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. The exact timeline for the Ravec security review has not been disclosed. The couple’s spokesperson stated they intend to continue visiting projects they are "personally invested in" to monitor their progress.