Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were seen in public together for the first time since returning to the UK, enjoying a meal at a Cotswolds pub called The Falkland Arms. The outing comes amid an ongoing row over who should pay for their security.
Incognito Date Night at The Falkland Arms
The married couple were seen on their way to the pub, with Prince Harry going incognito in sunglasses, a cap, jeans and a black jacket. Meghan also wore all black and sunglasses as the pair checked out the menu together.
According to The Sun, Meghan opted for a British classic, enjoying an £18.25 portion of gluten-free beer-battered haddock and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce. Harry chose the £17.95 chicken, ham and leek pie with seasonal greens, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy.
Royal Treatment for the Sussexes
A pub insider told The Sun: “Everyone here gets the royal treatment — it doesn’t matter who you are. We’re lucky to get lots of different people visiting us, and everyone is treated like a local. When they visited, Harry and Meghan just acted like locals.”
The pair were taking time out while their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, were at school. It is the first time the Sussexes have been pictured in public together since their return to the UK from America.
UK Relocation and Family Reunion
The couple moved back to the UK in August, in time for the September start of school, for an “extended period” of time. The Sussexes reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla in July when they were hosted, along with Archie and Lilibet, at Highgrove House. That private meeting was the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in four years, since 2022.
Prince Harry has not met with his brother, Prince William, and it is understood the brothers are now estranged and working on separate projects.
Harry Focuses on Invictus Games
Harry is focusing on the Invictus Games, which will take place in Birmingham next year. In the lead-up to the event, he spoke to Nato about why he created the event, opening up about how he lost “purpose and identity” when he was forced to step away from a role he loved.
The Duke of Sussex said he suffered with his sense of self when he left the British Army. Speaking to Nato’s military committee in Brussels via a video call, Harry said he wanted the Invictus Games to be a platform for others who may be struggling with their identity.
Speaking about military leaders when they leave the forces, he said: “We must think just as seriously about what happens to them after they have served — particularly when they return wounded, injured or sick. I know something about that transition. When I hung up my uniform, I felt as though I had lost not simply a profession, but part of my purpose and identity. I was fortunate. I had another way to serve.”
