Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to return to Nottingham for their first engagement since moving back to the UK, a visit that will test their reception after years of public disputes with the royal family.
The couple first visited the city in 2017, shortly after their engagement was announced, when supporters spilled over barricades to catch a glimpse of them. Nine years later, following a royal exit, a memoir, a Netflix documentary and an Oprah interview, the couple return as private citizens, a status King Charles has emphasised.
Return to Nottingham
During the visit, the couple are expected to call on a number of charity organisations as well as a community recording studio that Harry has visited before. It remains to be seen whether they will receive a warm reception, as Harry has already faced boos at a recent rugby match.
The engagement carries the hallmarks of a royal visit, despite the couple's private citizen status. The King has insisted that his son does not have the 'half in, half out' deal that the late Queen strictly forbade, making clear they are not representing the crown.
Commercial and charitable projects
Questions have been raised over how Harry and Meghan can balance commercial projects with charitable ones. It has been claimed that Harry could have been paid up to $100,000 (£75,000) for a recent talk on mental health, where he spoke about his depression.
Meghan has met Nobel Prize-winning activist Malala Yousafzai for tea at London's Claridge's, with critics accusing her of using the meeting to promote her lifestyle brand, As Ever. She announced on Instagram that proceeds from selected items would benefit the Malala fund.
Status dispute
Last month, Buckingham Palace issued a letter of 'guidance' on King Charles' behalf, stating the couple have not returned to the UK as working royals and remain 'private citizens'. Camp Sussex responded with a briefing expressing a preference for the term 'public figures'.
The Sandringham Summit in 2020 was intended to stop the Sussexes from carrying out commercial projects while remaining working royals. The challenge for Charles remains distinguishing between official royal events and personal philanthropic ones, as the couple meet members of the public and deliver speeches.
