Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of "sticking two fingers up" at the Royal Family following their recent visit to Nottingham. The couple, who returned to the UK in August, made their first joint appearance since their shock return last week.
Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, carried out three separate engagements in the city, which was where they undertook their first public visit after announcing their engagement in 2017. The couple stopped to speak to well-wishers as they headed into their visits, with critics accusing them of carrying out a walkabout they would have taken on as working members of the Royal Family.
Three engagements in Nottingham
As the couple made their way to their first visit of the day, the city's Community Recording Studio (CRS), between 150 and 200 people arrived to warmly welcome them. The local community charity offers various youth development programmes.
The couple then moved into their second visit: the Himmah Hub, a community action group addressing food poverty in Nottingham. They finally made their way to Epic Partners in Nottingham, their last stop of the day.
Royal expert's criticism
Speaking to New magazine, royal expert Duncan Larcombe said: "It looked exactly like a royal walkabout, so William is likely thinking, 'How dare they?' Private citizens don't greet crowds in the way they did and receive the level of attention they got.
"There was nothing private about it. Charles's position has been made crystal clear, and the Nottingham visit was a statement of intent by Harry and Meghan. They were just sticking two fingers up at him and saying, 'You can't tell us what to do. We'll do what we want. We've had involvement with these organisations in the past, and we're not stopping just because you've issued a letter'."
Warm welcome from fans
As they appeared in Nottingham, Meghan and Harry appeared delighted to be greeted by adoring fans, with Meghan spotted holding a huge bunch of autumnal-coloured flowers. The crowd cheered as the royal couple got out of a dark-coloured Range Rover, before one woman shouted: "We love you, Duchess Meghan, we love you."
Meghan and Harry were also spotted posing for pictures with awaiting fans as they spoke to them. Meghan was heard telling one fan how happy she was to be back in the UK.
Return to the UK
The couple stepped down from royal duties in early 2020 and moved to the US with their son, Prince Archie, shortly after. They then settled into life in California and welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in June 2021.
Harry used his new interview with GQ, released on Tuesday, to speak about their return, even revealing the decision behind the move. He said: "I think that certainly, our attitude has changed. I think once you've been through it, once you've been able to talk about it, and raise awareness to it, then people see it for what it is, it makes the environment slightly easier.
"It's not going to necessarily stop the behaviour, but I think the behaviour might—my hope that it will—change."
The couple have been at loggerheads with the royals since their move to the US six years ago, with feuds with some royals resulting in no communication at all. It remains unknown when Harry last spoke to Prince William, with Harry using his new interview to speak of his desire to reconcile with his brother. It is not known when Harry and Meghan will step out for another public outing in the UK.
Harry and Meghan are thought to be living somewhere in the Cotswolds with their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five.
