On Thursday, Harry and Meghan — the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — are scheduled to visit Nottingham together, with three public engagements planned as part of their return to the UK. The pair, who relocated to England in August having spent six years building a life in the United States after stepping back from royal duties, are scheduled to visit three organisations during their trip: the Community Recording Studio, the food-poverty initiative Himmah Hub, and Epic Partners, a group that works with young people through sport and mentoring.
Though a communication sent to government stakeholders by the King last month confirmed that the Sussexes hold private-citizen status rather than official royal standing, the forthcoming events are expected to carry many of the same trappings associated with formal royal appearances. Reports indicate that the duke and duchess view themselves as public figures, though the letter setting out their formal position came as an unexpected development to the couple.
Four years have passed since Meghan last attended public engagements on British soil, with her previous appearance having taken place at the Queen's funeral in 2022. Their attendance at the Commonwealth Day service held at Westminster Abbey marked the last time Harry and Meghan appeared together at an official royal function, a milestone that fell in 2020.
Appearances of a royal-adjacent nature are expected to be infrequent for Meghan, with her attention divided among her children, the As Ever lifestyle brand she founded, and a return to acting — a source told a broadcaster that she is currently going through a number of scripts. According to that insider, the two hold distinct professional focuses, with Harry's attention directed primarily toward charitable endeavours and public service commitments.
According to the source, her attention is directed primarily toward her family and children, then toward her business ventures, with any effort to revive her acting career coming after those commitments — meaning public appearances are expected to be infrequent. According to the unnamed source, Meghan was occupied with reviewing a volume of scripts at that point, with any remaining time set aside for charitable activities.
Questions circulated about how Meghan, who previously appeared in Suits, would occupy her time during the UK visit, including unconfirmed reports that she had been approached about a part in the Netflix series The Gentlemen. Someone close to the Duchess told a broadcast outlet that she was prepared for the Nottingham engagement, conveying her willingness to take part. The source noted that Meghan retains a number of causes she actively champions, with Nottingham holding a particular place among them.
