Meghan Markle surprised crowds in Nottingham with an unexpected confession during her first public appearance with Prince Harry since the couple returned to the UK. The Duchess of Sussex was speaking to well-wishers outside the Community Recording Studio in St Ann's on Thursday, October 15.
The couple were met with enthusiastic cheers as they stepped out of their car, stopping to chat with children from a nearby nursery. They spent around 25 minutes meeting the crowd, shaking hands and posing for photographs before heading inside.
Meghan's heartfelt words to young fans
Footage filmed by an attendee captured Meghan chatting to two young boys at the barrier, where she revealed the role she values most: being a mum. Meghan said: "I'm a mum. Best job in the world." Throughout the interaction, she beamed at the youngsters while playfully nudging one of them as she made her heartfelt statement.
The Duke and Duchess visited Community Recording Studio (CRS) in recognition of Harry's longstanding connection to the charity, which stretches back to 2013. Originally founded to provide young people with music and recording equipment access, CRS has since expanded its offering to encompass wider creative pursuits, sporting activities, mentorship programmes and youth empowerment.
Harry's decade of support for Nottingham charity
The Duke maintained his support for the charity over numerous years, visiting the community studio in September 2025 during a UK trip that included attending the annual WellChild Awards amongst other engagements. During that visit, Harry contributed £1.1 million to BBC Children in Need, funds now being utilised in CRS's redevelopment programme.
Today's visit by the Duke and Duchess marks over ten years of involvement with the Nottingham community. The couple will additionally visit Himmah Hub, a community action group tackling food poverty. There, Meghan is expected to reconnect with women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, with whom she worked on the 2018 charity cookbook, Together: Our Community Cookbook.
Return to Britain after California years
The Duke and Duchess, accompanied by their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, returned to Britain in late August following six years residing in California. Since arriving back, Harry has appeared at various events, while Meghan has kept a lower profile.
Shortly after their return to British soil, correspondence sent at the King's direction stated that Harry and Meghan ought to be regarded as "private citizens" upon their UK return, which "surprised" the Sussexes. Notwithstanding the correspondence, Harry has been carrying out engagements in recent weeks, notably attending the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London, and the United for Freedom gala to raise funds for organisations supporting Ukraine.
