Harry and Meghan defy ‘private citizens’ directive with confirmation of first joint UK appearance this week

Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to make their first joint appearance in the UK this week, seemingly defying King Charles’ ‘private citizens’ directive and instead operating as quasi-royals, as they have done since resigning as senior working royals in 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are scheduled to appear together in Nottingham, per The Times, with a planned visit to long-running creative youth organisation CRS Nottingham, where they will observe an acting workshop.

Harry and Meghan are expected to reconnect with some of the women who used to volunteer at the Grenfell Hubb Community Kitchen at a food bank, and will also meet with Epic Partners, an organisation that supports young people in sport.

This will be the first time the duchess will appear in an ‘official’ capacity since the family returned to the UK in August.

Meghan has been a longtime supporter of the Grenfell Hubb Community Kitchen before it ceased operating in February 2026. This is where she made her first royal project after marrying into the British royal family, including visiting the kitchen.

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The organisation launched in the aftermath of the deadly Grenfell Tower fire of 2017, which killed 72 people.

Meghan began visiting the charity in secret between her 2017 engagement and the May 2018 royal wedding, also contributing to the Together: Our Community Cookbook, launched by the organisation months later.

The duchess also reportedly kept in touch with the group after moving to the US in 2020 following her and Harry’s resignation as senior working royals.

After spending six years living in Montecito, California, the couple surprised royal followers this year by returning to the UK and enrolling their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, into local schools.

Since their return, Meghan has kept a low profile as Prince Harry made several solo appearances, including at the Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner & Awards and the WellChild Awards in London.

Harry told Canadian network CTV things are going “great” after the family’s return, adding that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are “happy in school”, which gives him “a chance to really focus on Invictus in Birmingham”, the upcoming 2027 games.

“It’s been great. It’s been great to be back on British soil. It’s great to be back on terra firma, actually,” Harry added.

The Invictus Games launched in London in 2014.

It is understood Prince Harry issued an invitation to King Charles to attend the Birmingham games following his initial support of the event when it launched.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not expected to join the royal family for official Christmas celebrations in the UK this year amid continuing tensions with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

As is tradition, working British royals will participate in a traditional public church walk on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk to attend a service at St mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Day before sharing Christmas lunch.