Prince Harry's friend Archie Manners has spoken about how the Duke of Sussex is really feeling since returning to live in the UK with his wife Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Appearing on Patrick Christy's GB News show, Manners refused to comment on whether Harry's return to public engagements was an attempt to mend his rift with his brother, Prince William. However, he did indicate the Duke was happy to be back on home turf.
A 'really good day' in Nottingham
Asked if the fifth in line to the throne was enjoying life back in the UK, Manners answered in the affirmative. He also indicated that Harry and Meghan were being given more space than they had previously, which made their lives easier. Speaking after the couple's first joint public appearance since their return, he said: "I think he is being given a bit more space by the press than he might previously have been done. We haven't seen, for example, pap shots of him in the UK very much. We haven't seen a lot of that come out. It seems to me they're not being hounded as they might well have been in the past, which probably makes life a little bit easier. That's just me speculating. I've no idea, but I think they've had a really good day [at the appearance]."
"I think they've done some good work for the youth of Nottingham. That's a good thing," he added. Manners, a comedian and magician, is a social acquaintance of Harry's, and the pair have moved in overlapping British upper-class circles for years. He performed as an entertainer at the royal's 30th birthday party.
Warm welcome in Nottingham
His remarks came after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a warm welcome as they carried out their first joint engagements in the UK since returning to the country over the summer. They were greeted by a crowd of fans when they arrived for their day out in Nottingham, where they undertook three appearances.
Their first stop was at the city's Community Recording Studio (CRS) at about 10.30am. At first it looked like fewer than 100 people might be in the crowd, but shortly before their arrival some latecomers helped boost numbers to between 150 and 200. Some 20 of those gathered were from Nottingham's Mencap, a local charity that supports people with learning disabilities and autism, as well as vulnerable individuals.
Several fans had brought flowers and balloons to give to the royal couple as they waited behind a barrier. When the couple arrived, they embarked on a 20-minute walkabout before the start of the engagement, during which Meghan gave one fan a kiss on the cheek. Harry and Meghan met musician and poet Jah Digga, who attended CRS as a child, while the Duchess joined young girls for a confidence-building and bracelet-making workshop. The Sussexes were then mobbed again by the crowd while departing the site, with fans asking for hugs, selfies and a moment with the couple.
