Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Nottingham Return Echoes Their First Joint Royal Visit Nearly 9 Years Ago

Simon Perry, Stephanie PetitThu, October 15, 2026 at 11:42 AM UTC

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Nottingham on Oct. 15, 2026; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Nottingham on Dec. 1, 2017Credit: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty; Samir Hussein/WireImageNearly 9 years ago, the Duke an Duchess of Sussex visited Nottingham just days after announcing their engagement -

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry returned to Nottingham on Oct. 15, nearly nine years after making their first official joint royal engagement in the city

The couple’s latest visit echoed their 2017 outing, from cheering crowds and bouquets of flowers to a walkabout with well-wishers

One woman even showed Meghan a photo from their 2017 visit, prompting the Duchess to respond, “That’s so special”

Nearly nine years after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first official royal outing together in Nottingham, the couple returned to the city on Oct. 15 — and the similarities between the two visits were hard to miss.

From the cheering crowds and bouquets of flowers to a familiar walkabout, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first official joint engagement since moving back to Britain echoed the scenes that greeted them in December 2017, just days after they announced their engagement.

One well-wisher even brought along a photograph from that original visit, showing it to Meghan during Thursday’s walkabout. “That’s so special,” the Duchess replied.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Nottingham on Oct. 15, 2026Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty

On Dec. 1, 2017, just four days after announcing their engagement, Meghan, then 36, accompanied Harry on her first official royal engagement. The newly engaged couple were greeted by crowds of excited locals who gathered to congratulate them on their upcoming wedding.

Nearly nine years later, the welcome was similarly enthusiastic. Around 100 people gathered to greet Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, as they arrived at the Community Recording Studio (CRS) on Thursday morning. The couple spent about 15 minutes shaking hands and chatting with well-wishers, including young schoolchildren, before heading inside.

Meghan Markle in Nottingham on Oct. 15, 2026Credit: Neil Mockford/GC Images

Meghan was presented with bouquets of flowers and a helium-filled balloon, telling one member of the crowd, “It’s great to be back.”

There was even a familiar fashion connection between the two visits. For Thursday’s outing, Meghan wore a coat, turtleneck and earrings by British luxury brand Joseph, paired with a skirt by The Fold London and shoes by Jennifer Chamandi. During her first official royal engagement in Nottingham in December 2017, she also wore a skirt by Joseph, bringing the same label back to the city nearly nine years later.

The full-circle outing comes less than two months after Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. alongside their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for an extended period following six years of living in California. Their latest visit to Nottingham included a series of charity engagements, reconnecting with organizations and community members they have supported over the years.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nottingham on Dec. 1, 2017Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage

During their December 2017 visit, Harry and Meghan began the day greeting enthusiastic crowds in Nottingham’s city center, where well-wishers gathered to congratulate the newly engaged couple.

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In one memorable exchange, a member of the crowd asked Harry what it was like to be with someone like Meghan “as a ginger.”

“It’s great, isn’t it? Unbelievable!” Harry joked in response.

Ahead of Thursday’s return, a friend told The Sunday Times, which first reported their plans to visit Nottingham, “Nottingham is a really special place for them, and they are looking forward to getting back out there into the community together.”

Prince Harry and Meghan’s return to Nottingham nearly nine years later had strong ties to their 2017 visit. Their agenda included a visit to Epic Partners, an organization that supports children and families through youth work, sport, mentoring and education.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Nottingham on Oct. 15, 2026Credit: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty

Harry’s relationship with Epic began in 2013, leading to “Full Effect,” a program between Epic and The Community Recording Studio (CRS) that was supported by The Royal Foundation from 2013 to 2020 and combined community-based support and school interventions with music and creative activities.

During the couple’s December 2017 visit to Nottingham Academy, Meghan met young people supported by Full Effect.

Meghan Markle visits The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham on Oct. 15, 2026Credit: Joe Giddens / AFP via Getty

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Prince Harry and Meghan also visited Himmah Hub, a food poverty community action group. There, Meghan reunited with some of the women the Duchess of Sussex supported at the Hubb Community Kitchen, a group that came together to prepare food for their community after being displaced following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. One of Meghan’s first projects as a member of the royal family was to collaborate with the women on a charity cookbook.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”