The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made their first joint appearance in Britain since moving back from the US in August, with photographs showing them walking into the Falkland Arms pub in Great Tew on Thursday. The images, published exclusively by The Sun, depict the couple in a rural setting with rolling countryside, wellies, dogs and a leisurely pub lunch.
Photos raise questions
Observers have questioned how a professional photographer came to be positioned to capture the images. Tom Sykes wrote in the Daily Beast: "One has to wonder how a professional photographer just happened to be parked up in the perfect position to grab photos that look like a typical US-style tabloid set up." He added that the images "tell exactly the story the Sussexes want", answering speculation about the state of their marriage with a "romantic midweek pub lunch".
Security argument at stake
The couple have long argued that the threat to their family in Britain is too great for them to return permanently without full taxpayer-funded protection. They are still waiting to hear whether they will receive the security assigned to working members of the Royal Family, following years of petitioning by Harry for the threat level against them to be reassessed.
Their anger at photographers outside their children's school stems from the same conviction that exposure puts their family at risk. If the pub photos were arranged or welcomed, that conviction becomes harder to sustain, as a family that is genuinely hounded does not usually pose for a leisurely, hand-in-hand stroll. The couple cannot easily claim both that the danger is acute and that being photographed is something they are happy to manage when it suits them.
