Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are set to make their first joint public appearances since returning to the United Kingdom, as the couple seek to rebuild their public image in Britain six years after stepping back from royal duties.
The couple will visit three charities in Nottingham, a city in central England, on Thursday. They made their first joint public appearance there in 2017 after announcing their engagement.
The day's programme has several features associated with royal visits, including the use of their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and a planned media pool to cover their movements. However, Archewell, their philanthropic organisation that played a prominent role during their time in the United States, has received little attention.
King Charles III, Harry's father, has made it clear that the couple remain non-working members of the royal family. They accepted this status when they gave up their royal duties and moved to California.
In a letter sent on the king's behalf to senior government officials shortly after Harry and Meghan returned to the UK in September, the palace stressed that they would not use their royal styles of address, His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness. It also said any charity work they carried out would be done as private citizens.
The decision to send the letter and make it public reflected concerns among some palace officials that the couple's celebrity status could allow them to establish a parallel royal presence, competing with the Prince and Princess of Wales and other working royals for media attention and public support.
Couple reconnect with familiar charities
Thursday's programme includes visits to the Community Recording Studio, which helps young people build confidence and practical skills through music, performance and sports; Himmah, described as central England's largest food bank; and Epic Partners, which provides sports, education and mentoring programmes for disadvantaged young people.
Harry has worked with the Community Recording Studio and Epic Partners for more than a decade. Meghan also worked with Himmah on Together: Our Community Cookbook, published in 2018.
Although the couple continued to support charities in the UK after leaving the country, their main focus shifted elsewhere.
Harry and Meghan gave up their royal duties and moved to California more than six years ago, saying they wanted to become financially independent. They later signed lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify.
Relations with other members of the royal family soon deteriorated. The couple accused palace staff of being insensitive to Meghan's mental health and raised allegations of racism and media manipulation against other members of the family.
Harry seeks reconciliation with his father
Tensions have begun to ease in recent months as Harry has expressed a desire to repair his relationship with the king. He has said he wants his children to have the opportunity to know their 77-year-old grandfather.
Charles is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer diagnosed in 2024.
The couple and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are reportedly living at a private residence in the Cotswolds, a rural area west of Oxford known for its rolling hills, villages and farms.
Although Harry and Meghan have expressed happiness about returning to the UK, the move has also sparked controversy.
Harry continues to seek publicly funded police protection, which was withdrawn when the couple stepped back from royal duties.
The prince has said that he and his family remain under threat because of his royal status. The children have also changed schools just days after the new school year began because of security concerns.