Meghan Markle has revealed “it’s great to be back” in the U.K. as she and Prince Harry made their first joint appearance since their move across the pond.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who relocated to the U.K. in August with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, took a trip to Nottingham, England together on Oct. 15.
Upon their arrival, the couple greeted the around 100 people who had gathered to witness their visit to the city.
Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, crouched down to talk to several schoolchildren, with the Duchess even being presented with a bouquets of flowers and a balloon.
“It’s great to be back,” she told one person.
The warm welcome was filled with several special moments, including one that saw the crowd shouting, “I love you Duchess Meghan.”
The appearance marked their return to a city that played an important role in their early relationship, having served as the location of their first official joint engagement following their November 2017 engagement announcement.
Their outing comes just days after it was reported that they were turning their attention to their professional and charitable commitments after spending their first several weeks in Britain adjusting to their new surroundings.
Their latest chapter comes more than six years after the couple stepped away from their roles as working members of the royal family and established a new life in North America.
The upcoming visit comes as an insider close to the couple tells People that Harry and Meghan are eager to devote more attention to their philanthropic endeavors, having initially concentrated on helping their children adapt to living in a new country.
Their transition has not been without complications.
According to the outlet, Archie and Lilibet were forced to change schools just two days into the academic year due to security and logistical concerns surrounding their commute.
However, the children have reportedly adapted to their new environment, allowing their parents to devote additional time to commitments outside the family home.
A source told People that Harry and Meghan have established a schedule centered around their children’s school hours, while continuing to prioritize spending time together as a family.
Their upcoming trip to Nottingham will include visits to organizations with which the couple have longstanding relationships.
Among them is the Community Recording Studio, which works with young people affected by violence, as well as Epic Partners, an organization that provides mentoring and sports opportunities.
Meghan is also expected to meet with women involved in the Hubb Community Kitchen, whose work she previously supported through the 2018 charity cookbook “Together: Our Community Cookbook.”
The couple’s apparent enthusiasm for their latest chapter comes shortly after Harry reflected on the difficulties he experienced when he and Meghan first left Britain.
The Duke of Sussex previously revealed that he experienced depression for approximately two weeks after moving to Canada with Meghan and Archie.
During an appearance in a MasterClass program, Harry explained that leaving behind the intense pressures of his previous environment resulted in an unexpected emotional reaction.
The royal described experiencing a dramatic drop in adrenaline shortly after arriving in Canada, admitting that the change left him struggling to carry out everyday activities.
Harry said he had become so accustomed to functioning under stress that its sudden absence affected his ability to operate normally.
His admission offered a candid look at the emotional difficulties he faced during the couple’s initial departure from royal life.
Harry and Meghan spent time in Canada before announcing in January 2020 that they intended to step away from their senior royal responsibilities.
They eventually relocated to California, where they purchased a sprawling Montecito mansion for $14.65 million in 2020.
The property became the family’s primary residence as they established lives outside the monarchy, with Meghan pursuing business ventures and Harry continuing his charitable work.
However, their decision to return to Britain has brought another significant change to their living arrangements.
Although Harry and Meghan have returned to the U.K., they have reportedly decided to retain their Montecito mansion rather than sever their residential ties to California.
In the meantime, the family has reportedly been staying at a friend’s mansion in the Cotswolds while exploring their options.
Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet relocated to the U.K. on Aug. 26.
Their return to Britain doesn’t mean they have completely cut ties with California. The couple will reportedly hold on to their Montecito property while establishing a private residence in the U.K.
Markle is said to be hoping to re-create the lavish lifestyle the couple enjoyed in California, with their potential new property mirroring their sprawling Montecito mansion in more ways than one.
The duchess reportedly wants the U.K. residence to boast nine bedrooms—the same number as their California estate—as well as plenty of luxurious amenities.
And with Markle poised to make her return to acting, she is said to be seeking a home with its own filming studio, according to the Daily Mail.
Harry, meanwhile, appears to be prioritizing privacy and space, reportedly searching for “a lot, and I mean a lot, of land, and no footpaths going across it to protect their privacy.”
While the couple hunt for their dream dwelling, the family is reportedly staying “indefinitely” in the spare room of a friend’s Cotswolds mansion.
Several sources told the outlet that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been eyeing a $16.2 million property, but no deal has been made.
According to People, the family bid farewell to the West Coast on the evening of Aug. 25, traveling to England aboard a private jet.
Before their departure, Harry and Meghan spent their final days in Montecito, surrounded by some of their closest friends, as well as Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, an insider told the outlet.
“They wanted to spend time with the people they’re closest to before they left and for the kids to have some special time with friends,” the source said. “It wasn’t a goodbye forever. It was much more, ‘We’ll be back, but this is what we’re doing right now.’”
The insider added that emotions ran high as the Sussexes said goodbye to the life and loved ones they were leaving behind.
“They’ve been planning this for some time, and they feel it’s the right thing for their family, but that doesn’t mean leaving was easy. Meghan really loves their life in Montecito and their home there. They know it’s going to take a little bit of time for everyone to settle in and adjust. There’s excitement about what’s ahead, too, especially for the kids,” the source added.
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