The Royal Family have been urged to use Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to “get the country back on side” after the couple received a warm welcome during a visit to Nottingham on Thursday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out in the city for a series of quasi-royal engagements, marking their first joint appearance since their return to the UK at the end of August. The couple are now thought to be living in the Cotswolds with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Warm welcome in Nottingham
Around 150 to 200 people gathered to greet the couple as they arrived. Writing in the i paper, journalist Flora Symington urged the royals to use the couple to help rebuild public support, suggesting they may “regret pushing out” the Sussexes.
Symington wrote: “[King] Charles and the rest of the Royal Family might live to regret pushing out the Sussexes so completely, as they yet again prove themselves relatable and likeable to the public at a time when the royals need all the help they can get to get the country back on side.”
Popularity on display
During their first stop at a community recording studio, one woman shouted: “We love you Duchess Meghan, we love you.” Symington noted that bunches of flowers were handed to the Duchess as she hugged locals and kissed one woman on the cheek.
Symington added that, following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earlier this year and his recent High Court win, the royals could use Meghan and Harry to boost their reputation. She wrote: “If there is one thing the Royal Family needs as the shadow of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest continues to hover, it is some popular figures out and about showing the public the family’s support for charities and good causes.”
Andrew was released under investigation after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and has denied any wrongdoing.
Visit highlights
In addition to the Community Recording Studio, Meghan and Harry visited the Himmah Hub, a community action group addressing food poverty in Nottingham, and Epic Partners, which supports children, young people and families in St Ann's and Sneinton through youth work, sport, mentoring and education.
The couple were protected by their private security team and did not have the police convoys assigned to senior working royals. Following a letter to Government stakeholders last month, authorised by the King, clarifying that the Sussexes remain “private citizens”, the visits appeared to reflect that status.
Nichola, a Nottingham resident, brought gift bags and balloons for Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. She said: “I can just go show our complete support for Harry and Meghan; they’ve got children, I’ve got children, and I brought something I thought the children would like. Harry said ‘How do you know she likes unicorns’ and I said, ‘all children like unicorns’. I know they get a lot of stick and it’s not justified we love them and show support they are always welcome.”
