The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Nottingham on Thursday, their first joint royal-style engagement since moving back to the UK, drew sharply contrasting reactions from the public, underscoring the powerful emotions they continue to evoke.
Meghan Markle said it was "great to be back" on British soil during the visit. Fans who gathered to greet them were gushing in their praise, describing Meghan as an "ambassador of peace" and even suggesting the couple "should be King and Queen".
Supporters and Critics Voice Strong Opinions
Admirers, whose numbers grew as the day went on, spanned different age groups. Charmaine Richards Brown, 67, was "emotional" at the prospect of seeing them in person, while Lewis Robinson, 17, labelled Harry and Meghan "amazing" and suggested they "absolutely should have taxpayer-funded security".
However, others in the city centre offered a starkly different verdict. David Harker, 54, said he finds Meghan "nauseating and entitled", adding that the couple "weren't welcome" in the city or the country more widely. John Bird, 78, said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could "p*** off", and Linda Wells, 67, said the duke "should apologise" for what he's "written and said" about the Royal Family, which "should have been kept private".
Between these two extremes were ambivalent Nottingham locals who claimed "not to care" about the visit, which bore all the hallmarks of a traditional royal engagement despite explicitly not being such.
A Polarising Presence
The discrepancy between the couple's adoring followers and their critics was a reminder of the powerful emotions they conjure up in people, for better or worse. Few public figures provoke devotion and contempt on the same streets in the same afternoon.
This is a rhetoric the duke and duchess have repeatedly reinforced and, to an extent, created through their antagonistic relationship with Buckingham Palace. They have firmly positioned themselves at loggerheads with King Charles and the Prince of Wales, accusing them of coldness, mistreatment and even racism.
This dynamic inevitably fosters a fanatic sense of devotion or hatred, forcing those watching to either steer clear entirely or passionately dedicate themselves to a side. Nowhere was this more clear than in Nottingham on Thursday.
Supporters Outnumber Critics
There had been speculation about potential hecklers or protesters outside the three stops on Harry and Meghan's whistle-stop tour of the city. After all, they remain two of the most unpopular members of the Royal Family, according to polling which puts Meghan at a slightly better approval rating than Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Harry just a few places above her.
But as their supporters grew in number, it became clear that any naysayers would be outnumbered and unwelcome. More than one person clutching a bouquet of flowers spoke angrily of the vitriol directed at the couple, and defied anyone to suggest they were not "always loved in Nottingham".
It remains unclear what motivated Harry and Meghan to abandon their six-year stint in the US for a return to Britain. If their goal is to command attention, the Nottingham trip bodes well. But if they are seeking a low-profile, secure existence for their children, they may have fundamentally miscalculated.
Whether the Sussexes will be given taxpayer-funded security in Britain remains to be seen. What is undeniable, however, is that they remain highly visible lightning rods, virtually guaranteed to attract intense, unpredictable crowds, wherever they go.
