Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest visit to Nottingham has reignited debate about their place in public life with critics accusing the couple of recreating the look of royal engagements despite no longer being working members of the Royal Family.
Keep reading to learn more.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to Nottingham on Thursday, October 15, visiting community organizations, meeting charity workers, greeting well-wishers and spending time with young people.
For supporters, the outing offered a chance to see the couple reconnect with people in the UK. But some online critics questioned the reception they received, alleging that the crowds and public moments had been carefully arranged.
“two citizens acting as royals in Nottingham,” one person posted on X.
The couple’s visit was their first joint public appearance in the UK since returning in August. It also brought them back to a city where they made a joint public appearance in December 2017, shortly after announcing their engagement.
Claims About The Crowd Remain Unverified
As photos and videos from the visit circulated, some critics questioned whether the public turnout was spontaneous. Some posts accused the Sussexes of assembling a crowd to avoid negative reactions.
One person wrote, “They managed to round up some locals!? Rent a crowd most probably” while another person added, “What a fake crowd.”
Those claims have not been independently verified, and the supplied reports do not establish that anyone was paid to attend or that the event was organized to prevent booing.
Still, the allegations became a major part of the online conversation, with some critics describing the visit as staged or designed to create flattering images.
A Charity Visit That Looked Familiar To Royal Watchers
Harry and Meghan’s itinerary included the Community Recording Studio, Himmah Hub and Epic Partners — organizations working with young people, families and people experiencing food poverty.
The day featured elements often associated with royal walkabouts; a planned schedule, visits to charitable organizations, public greetings and photographs with people who came to see them.
That familiar format prompted some observers to question whether the couple were trying to reproduce their former royal roles.
Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in 2020. Although they retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, the supplied report says a letter of guidance from the Royal Household clarified that they are private citizens with charitable and commercial interests, operating separately from the institution.
Their Nottingham appearances were therefore not official royal engagements.
Meghan’s Time With Young People Also Drew Online Criticism
During the visit, Meghan took part in a confidence-building workshop at the Community Recording Studio, where she spoke with young people and joined them in a creative activity.
Some online commenters criticized her interactions with the children, accusing her of playing up her affection for them for the cameras.
Others objected to the media coverage of the visit, particularly because King Charles III and Queen Camilla were reportedly undertaking an official engagement in Wales on the same day.
One commenter questioned why the Sussexes’ outing had been featured on BBC One’s lunchtime news ahead of the King and Queen’s engagement. “Sickening! And why was this broadcast on BBC1 Lunchtime News ahead of the King and Queen’s official engagement? Or at all actually?” they wrote.
A Royal Commentator Says The Couple Are Recreating The “Optics” Of Royal Life
Kinsey Schofield, host of Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered, spoke to Fox News Digital about what she described as frustration within Buckingham Palace over the Sussexes’ charity visits.
“Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family. The Sussexes appear increasingly determined to recreate the optics of royal life without the responsibilities that come with it,” she said, characterizing the visits as “royal theatre without royal authority.”
Schofield argued that working royals have a particular role in representing the sovereign and supporting the country’s interests.
“Harry and Meghan appear more interested in faking the image of royalty than embracing its purpose,” she added. “They can imitate the engagement, but they can’t replicate the authority or constitutional significance.”
Those are Schofield’s opinions, rather than an official statement from Buckingham Palace. The visit itself also received a warmer response from some attendees, with reports describing greetings, selfies, hugs and gifts from members of the public.
The Nottingham Visit Had Personal Meaning, Too
Beyond the controversy, the city holds a place in the couple’s relationship history.
Harry and Meghan made their first joint public appearance in Nottingham in December 2017, shortly after announcing their engagement. Returning years later, now married and parents to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, gave the trip a personal connection.
But that significance has been overshadowed online by the argument over how the couple should conduct public-facing work now that they are no longer working royals.
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