Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nottingham, where they supported projects they have backed for years, is being interpreted by royal commentators as anything but a private affair. The couple visited the city not as working royals but as public figures, engaging with a recording studio, a food bank, and a youth mentoring group.
A spokesperson for the couple described Nottingham as "a special place," noting it was where they made their first joint appearance after announcing their engagement in 2017. However, the nature of the trip has sparked debate among royal observers.
Commentators Question the 'Private Citizen' Label
Speaking on the Express's Royals Unscripted podcast, royal commentator and broadcaster Carole Malone said she was "not buying" the public figure image, suggesting the visit was a thinly veiled royal tour. She believes the trip will frustrate the Royal Household, which has made clear that the Sussexes should be viewed as private citizens, per a letter issued by the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of King Charles.
"I'm not buying this stuff that they are going back because it's a hard thing to them. I'm not buying," Ms Malone said. "This is the start of the Harry and Megan royal train if you like, and why would the people of Nottingham want them there if they weren't coming under the umbrella of being royal? These are private citizens, so we're told, and two private citizens making what looks like a state visit to Nottingham is just it's a bit off I think. I think this will infuriate Charles, and I think Wills will be incandescent, don't you?"
Express Royal Editor Emily Ferguson agreed, declaring "absolutely." She also found it strange that the couple pre-announced their visit, noting that such engagements are typically embargoed. "Typically, engagements such as this, they're embargoed and they rock up and no one's aware of it," she claimed.
Pre-Announcement Raises Questions
Ms Ferguson highlighted the significance of the pre-announcement, especially given Prince Harry's past statements about safety in the UK. "I think what is really interesting about this trip, it's not sprung out of nowhere. We found out on the weekend, it was pre-announced. And this is a couple, this is Harry, who has said repeatedly over the last few years the UK isn't safe for him, it's not safe for his wife, it's not safe for his children," she added.
"I understand that the decision came from them to pre-announce to the public. So, is it only unsafe when it suits them? What are they trying to do here?"
The couple had a private security team with them in Nottingham, and local police teams are understood to have been aware of their visit. Their itinerary included the Community Recording Studio, a charity Prince Harry has supported since 2013, followed by Himmah Hub, a charity tackling food poverty, and Epic Partners, a youth work, sport and mentoring group.
