Four days after their engagement announcement, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marked a major royal milestone as they carried out their first official engagements in Nottingham today.
News of the visit was both very exciting and unexpected. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly Meghan is diving into her new role. For anyone entering the Royal family, especially one who will have an important part to play, there is so much to learn and numerous layers to consider, given the myriad duties senior royals undertake. I understand today's engagements are the first of many around the UK which will offer Meghan invaluable experience. As Meghan's not from the UK, she's clearly keen to get to know as many places and organisations as possible before the wedding.
During the engagement interview Meghan elaborated on this point, saying: "Very early out of the gate I think we realised once you have access or a voice that people are willing to listen to, comes a lot of responsibility which I take seriously and at the same time in the beginning few months and now being boots on the ground in the UK, I'm excited just to really get to know more about the different communities here, the smaller organisations working on the same causes I've always been passionate about. And also being able to go around to the Commonwealth. I think it's just the beginning."
For their first official engagements, it was important to Prince Harry to introduce his future bride to Nottingham, a community that holds a special place in his heart. Harry has spent a significant amount of time there both publicly and privately since he first visited in 2013 when he was exploring issues surrounding youth violence. He is immensely proud of the partnerships and friendships he has built there. Kensington Palace noted: "Ms Markle cannot wait to meet many of the young people Prince Harry has told her so much about.
One of my favourite royal reporters Richard Palmer received a handshake from Meghan.
Victoria Murphy described Meghan as a "natural" with the crowds.
Meghan gave one of her handwarmers to a member of the crowd.
Prince Harry greets locals.
Meghan with little royal fans :)
People reports:
Can you spot Meghan?
Today is World AIDS Day. The late Princess Diana was a passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, and her work in destigmatizing has been credited with changing attitudes of those all over the world. The cause is incredibly close to Harry's heart too, and in carrying on his mother's work, it's no surprise he chose World AIDS Day for what would already be a particularly high profile day in his life.
What did locals who met the future royal think. The Telegraph has the scoop:
Harry and Meghan visited the Nottingham Contemporary which hosted a Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair.
Nottingham Contemporary is a contemporary art centre in the Lace Market area of Nottingham, on a site said to be the oldest in the city. To celebrate the area's history of lace manufacture, the cladding of the building is embossed with a traditional Nottingham lace pattern.
They met representatives from Terrence Higgins Trust Nottingham, the African Institute for Social Development and Champions for Change, who each support local communities in Nottingham and do specific work around HIV/AIDS.
They also met representatives from the Food Chain and BHIVA, which support people living with HIV and works towards eradicating the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
Harry has worked with the Terrence Higgins Trust in the past to raise awareness. How did the organisation begin? Terry Higgins was one of the first people in the UK to die with AIDS. He died aged 37, on 4 July 1982 in St Thomas' Hospital, London. By naming the Trust after Terry, the founder members – his partner and friends – hoped to personalise and humanise AIDS in a very public way.
More on the history of the trust:
Their campaign this year is See Red. "Today, people all over the world will wear a red ribbon with pride, without fear, shame or stigma. On World AIDS Day, the colour red represents solidarity, love, activism and remembrance. The more we See Red, the sooner we will end the HIV epidemic." If you would like to donate or find out more information please click here. £50 could help run one session at a newly diagnosed group.
The couple wore their red ribbons in support of the campaign.
Next, Harry and Meghan travelled on to Nottingham Academy where met head teachers from the Academy and local primary schools as well Full Effect staff and mentors.
Following his time in Nottingham, Prince Harry established the Full Effect programme in 2013 supported by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The programme supports children and young people in an effort to prevent their involvement in youth violence and crime through a combination of early intervention, mentorship, and training. As Meghan will become a patron of the Royal Foundation after the wedding, it was an excellent opportunity for her to see the success of one of its programmes first hand.
It is lovely to observe how tactile Harry and Meghan were with each other throughout the day.
During their visit to the Academy, Prince Harry and Ms Markle heard first-hand from staff about the positive impact Full Effect is having on the local school communities and students.
Harry and Meghan had the opportunity to meet some of the children benefiting from the programme's Friday Night Youth Club which began in September.
More from the Mail Online's story:
Prince Harry and Meghan also caught up with Chantelle Stefanovic, a project coordinator for the Full Effect programme, who recently spoke about the issues facing children and young people in St Ann’s at the inaugural summit of the Obama Foundation in Chicago.
Chantelle is actually a significant part of the reason for Harry's involvement in the area.
She wrote Harry a searingly honest letter explaining her troubled background and the issues in the area. Harry revealed: "She said: 'You need to know my back story and exactly what happens in this community.' I really respected and admired that - it was exactly what I needed to know, we were in the right place." At the summit, Chantelle spoke about her life: "When you are...growing up knowing that your mum is missing her dinner to feed you, all you want to do is help, and you help by any means necessary. The solution for me when I was younger was to help in a way that was quite negative."
You can view Harry and Chantelle's participation at the Obama Summit in the video below.
News of the visit was both very exciting and unexpected. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly Meghan is diving into her new role. For anyone entering the Royal family, especially one who will have an important part to play, there is so much to learn and numerous layers to consider, given the myriad duties senior royals undertake. I understand today's engagements are the first of many around the UK which will offer Meghan invaluable experience. As Meghan's not from the UK, she's clearly keen to get to know as many places and organisations as possible before the wedding.
During the engagement interview Meghan elaborated on this point, saying: "Very early out of the gate I think we realised once you have access or a voice that people are willing to listen to, comes a lot of responsibility which I take seriously and at the same time in the beginning few months and now being boots on the ground in the UK, I'm excited just to really get to know more about the different communities here, the smaller organisations working on the same causes I've always been passionate about. And also being able to go around to the Commonwealth. I think it's just the beginning."
For their first official engagements, it was important to Prince Harry to introduce his future bride to Nottingham, a community that holds a special place in his heart. Harry has spent a significant amount of time there both publicly and privately since he first visited in 2013 when he was exploring issues surrounding youth violence. He is immensely proud of the partnerships and friendships he has built there. Kensington Palace noted: "Ms Markle cannot wait to meet many of the young people Prince Harry has told her so much about.
The day began at the National Justice Museum where the couple received a warm welcome as crowds gathered to greet them on their first walkabout.
It was the perfect way to greet members of the public for the first time and a great start to the day.
It was the perfect way to greet members of the public for the first time and a great start to the day.
Meghan was given flowers and congratulatory cards.
Meghan told one well-wisher "I can't believe it, I've been made so welcome and I can't believe it".
At another point, she said: "I'm so happy, It's just such a thrill to be here."
This video from Victoria Murphy is priceless :)
At another point, she said: "I'm so happy, It's just such a thrill to be here."
This video from Victoria Murphy is priceless :)
The crowds in Nottingham can’t get enough of Meghan and Harry today pic.twitter.com/HDyUyb2CaV— Victoria Murphy (@QueenVicMirror) December 1, 2017
Well I got a handshake pic.twitter.com/bd5PqurNmO— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) December 1, 2017
Meghan being a natural with the crowds in Nottingham pic.twitter.com/IZMlTdbHCw— Victoria Murphy (@QueenVicMirror) December 1, 2017
 |
| Fiona Mackie Twitter Feed |
Prince Harry greets locals.
Meghan with little royal fans :)
People reports:
'While the two were greeting the crowds, one bold fan asked what it was like to be with someone like Meghan “as a ginger. “It’s great isn’t it … unbelievable!” Harry joked in response.
Among the lucky people getting a quick chat was Caroline Cartwright, who told Meghan she and husband Andrew were big fans of Suits. “I told her Mike should be here,” Caroline told PEOPLE. “She said ‘I don’t think he would be today!’ She is just as beautiful as she is on TV. She is absolutely perfect, most wonderful and perfect for him.”
Claire Kelsall handed Harry a celebration card made by her daughter Ruby, 7. “The card had ‘Congratulations Harry and Meghan’. She drew a picture of the ring and it had a picture of the couple inside,” Kelsall, 28, tells PEOPLE. “I told him that we are really big fans and would see him at the wedding. He was very, very pleased and asked where Ruby was. She is in school. I told him we’d come and see him at the wedding. He was very pleased with the card and put it inside his coat. She adds, “They are a lovely couple. They looked lovely together.”
When the actress met people she made a point of introducing herself saying “Hi, I’m Meghan.”
Can you spot Meghan?
Today is World AIDS Day. The late Princess Diana was a passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, and her work in destigmatizing has been credited with changing attitudes of those all over the world. The cause is incredibly close to Harry's heart too, and in carrying on his mother's work, it's no surprise he chose World AIDS Day for what would already be a particularly high profile day in his life.
Love Meghan’s skirt today pic.twitter.com/3wfsZHgmFx— Victoria Murphy (@QueenVicMirror) December 1, 2017
'One group of mothers had brought five small children for their first encounter with royalty, with Claire Saribi saying they could not pass up the opportunity to show them history in action. Her son Idris, one, had been practising saying "congratulations" ahead of the walkabout, while Zoë and Emilia, who are three and friends from ballet class, made a card covered in star-shaped stickers.
Ms Markle crouched down to meet them and ask how old they were, and thank them for the card. Helena Bottomly, who gave a bag of Haribo to Meghan to pass to her fiance, stood with three friends who had brought red and white roses, said: "She was really pleased with the presents. We congratulated her." Asked for their assessment of Ms Markle, the friends said: "She's a little gem."
Meghan, 36, showed that she is already learning the royal rules when it comes to official visits, politely declining to pose for a selfie, telling one couple: “We’re not allowed.” Barbara Miller, 63, from Nottingham, said: “She said thank you very much for braving the cold. “I said ‘can we have a selfie?’. She said ‘we’re not allowed to do selfies’. She was so pleasant, she was lovely. She said to my husband ‘your hands are really cold’."
Harry and Meghan visited the Nottingham Contemporary which hosted a Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair.
Nottingham Contemporary is a contemporary art centre in the Lace Market area of Nottingham, on a site said to be the oldest in the city. To celebrate the area's history of lace manufacture, the cladding of the building is embossed with a traditional Nottingham lace pattern.
They met representatives from Terrence Higgins Trust Nottingham, the African Institute for Social Development and Champions for Change, who each support local communities in Nottingham and do specific work around HIV/AIDS.
They also met representatives from the Food Chain and BHIVA, which support people living with HIV and works towards eradicating the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
Harry has worked with the Terrence Higgins Trust in the past to raise awareness. How did the organisation begin? Terry Higgins was one of the first people in the UK to die with AIDS. He died aged 37, on 4 July 1982 in St Thomas' Hospital, London. By naming the Trust after Terry, the founder members – his partner and friends – hoped to personalise and humanise AIDS in a very public way.
More on the history of the trust:
'From its small beginnings in a flat in central London, Terrence Higgins Trust has grown to become the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity, and one of the largest in Europe. It has always been at the forefront of the fight against HIV and AIDS, and since it was formed, the needs of people living with, and affected by, HIV have been fundamental to its development.
The charity's roots were in the gay community and, for many years, the HIV epidemic in the UK affected mainly gay men. Nonetheless, we've always worked in an equal way with gay men, haemophiliacs, sex-workers and drug users from the start. As the shape of the epidemic here has changed, so has the charity. There are now nearly as many African people living in the UK diagnosed with HIV and in care as gay men now, though the majority of new infections continue to be among gay men. So existing services have been developed and new services introduced to meet ever-changing needs.'
Their campaign this year is See Red. "Today, people all over the world will wear a red ribbon with pride, without fear, shame or stigma. On World AIDS Day, the colour red represents solidarity, love, activism and remembrance. The more we See Red, the sooner we will end the HIV epidemic." If you would like to donate or find out more information please click here. £50 could help run one session at a newly diagnosed group.
The couple wore their red ribbons in support of the campaign.
Next, Harry and Meghan travelled on to Nottingham Academy where met head teachers from the Academy and local primary schools as well Full Effect staff and mentors.
Following his time in Nottingham, Prince Harry established the Full Effect programme in 2013 supported by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The programme supports children and young people in an effort to prevent their involvement in youth violence and crime through a combination of early intervention, mentorship, and training. As Meghan will become a patron of the Royal Foundation after the wedding, it was an excellent opportunity for her to see the success of one of its programmes first hand.
It is lovely to observe how tactile Harry and Meghan were with each other throughout the day.
During their visit to the Academy, Prince Harry and Ms Markle heard first-hand from staff about the positive impact Full Effect is having on the local school communities and students.
Harry and Meghan had the opportunity to meet some of the children benefiting from the programme's Friday Night Youth Club which began in September.
More from the Mail Online's story:
'Chris O'Hanlon, who is a peer mentor for Positively UK, a charity which helps people newly diagnosed with HIV, talked to them about his own diagnosis and the importance of fitness in dealing with HIV. 'I spoke to Meghan about my passion for yoga,' said Mr O'Hanlon, 40, a clinical hypnotherapist from Luton. 'I said, 'You are a big yogi and love your yoga.' She said, 'Absolutely, I love incorporating it into my life, it is something I have always done.'
He said the couple were 'so natural' together. 'They are very personable. It is very easy to talk to them because they are so open. They have a very jokey attitude. You worry that you have to be 'They seem amazingly comfortable together. You can see that it's a perfect match. 'This may have been her first official engagement, but she was a complete natural at it. She was incredibly observant about what we were talking about, and very interested. She picked up on quite a few things that I was saying, particularly in terms of my own diagnosis. She was very empathetic.'
Prince Harry and Meghan also caught up with Chantelle Stefanovic, a project coordinator for the Full Effect programme, who recently spoke about the issues facing children and young people in St Ann’s at the inaugural summit of the Obama Foundation in Chicago.
Chantelle is actually a significant part of the reason for Harry's involvement in the area.
She wrote Harry a searingly honest letter explaining her troubled background and the issues in the area. Harry revealed: "She said: 'You need to know my back story and exactly what happens in this community.' I really respected and admired that - it was exactly what I needed to know, we were in the right place." At the summit, Chantelle spoke about her life: "When you are...growing up knowing that your mum is missing her dinner to feed you, all you want to do is help, and you help by any means necessary. The solution for me when I was younger was to help in a way that was quite negative."
You can view Harry and Chantelle's participation at the Obama Summit in the video below.
The couple watched a Hip-Opera performance.
And posed with the cast for photos.
Moving on to what Meghan wore for her first official engagements.
For a very chilly morning in Nottingham, Meghan wrapped up in her Mackage Elodie Double Breasted Military Coat. The piece is described as "A broad, draping collar, epaulets and belted cuffs bring a commanding yet elegant presence to a double-breasted military jacket cut with an elongated maxi silhouette. A touch of cashmere adds softness to the dense, wool-blend fabric, while a deep midnight navy shade gives the striking piece a timeless quality that elevates any ensemble." Meghan has had the piece by the popular Canadian brand for some time. It is now available for pre-order on the Mackage website retailing at $790.
With thanks to Meghan's Fashion, Wolford confirmed Meghan wore their Colorado Bodysuit. It is available at ShopBop and Barneys.
The fantastic team at Meghan's Mirror identified Meghan's skirt is the Joseph Laurel Full Midi Skirt. The beige cotton piece retails for £595 at FarFetch, Matches and Net-A-Porter where it is discounted by up to 50%. Joseph is a popular British brand which has been worn by a number of royals over the years.
Kurt Geiger confirmed Meghan wore their Violet Black Suede Over The Knee Boots. The £229 boots are described as "Dramatic in style and contemporary in design, these boots sit on a sleek cone-shaped heel and slope to a smart pointed toe. Padding in the sock ensures a comfortable fit so they can be worn effortlessly from desk to dinner."
They are available in limited sizing at House of Fraser, John Lewis and Kurt Geiger.
Meghan's gorgeous handbag is the Strathberry Midi Tote in white navy and deep red (with thanks to Meghan's Mirror). The tote features a sleek design and beautiful leather construction. Strathberry is a Scottish luxury accessories brand. The tote is available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $675.
It can also be purchased in a wide selection of colours on the Strathberry website.
We are seeing very clear signs of The Meghan Effect taking off. The Telegraph writes: Meghan Markle boosts two British brands in Nottingham - with her bag selling out in minutes:
A nice video from CBC News.
During their engagement interview, Meghan spoke of beginning a new chapter of her life. That chapter successfully started today, not only for her as she prepares to become a royal, but for the Royal family in general. She must have been nervous. When they arrived initially I thought she looked a little taken aback, however, the moment she began meeting people and shaking hands she appeared completely at ease. Her excitement at the welcome she received was evident and she really took the time to talk to people. As people who met Meghan said, she's a natural. At the engagements she was completely professional - one would think she had been doing it for years. I very much enjoyed seeing Meghan combine pieces from her own wardrobe with British brands. It was also wonderful to see how affectionate Harry and Meghan were with each other throughout the day too. These two make one terrific pairing. :)
Nottingham gave them a very warm welcome for the first of many engagements in the months ahead. I would class today as a resounding success, well done Meghan!
And posed with the cast for photos.
Moving on to what Meghan wore for her first official engagements.
For a very chilly morning in Nottingham, Meghan wrapped up in her Mackage Elodie Double Breasted Military Coat. The piece is described as "A broad, draping collar, epaulets and belted cuffs bring a commanding yet elegant presence to a double-breasted military jacket cut with an elongated maxi silhouette. A touch of cashmere adds softness to the dense, wool-blend fabric, while a deep midnight navy shade gives the striking piece a timeless quality that elevates any ensemble." Meghan has had the piece by the popular Canadian brand for some time. It is now available for pre-order on the Mackage website retailing at $790.
 |
| Mackage |
With thanks to Meghan's Fashion, Wolford confirmed Meghan wore their Colorado Bodysuit. It is available at ShopBop and Barneys.
 |
| ShopBop |
The fantastic team at Meghan's Mirror identified Meghan's skirt is the Joseph Laurel Full Midi Skirt. The beige cotton piece retails for £595 at FarFetch, Matches and Net-A-Porter where it is discounted by up to 50%. Joseph is a popular British brand which has been worn by a number of royals over the years.
 |
| FarFetch |
Kurt Geiger confirmed Meghan wore their Violet Black Suede Over The Knee Boots. The £229 boots are described as "Dramatic in style and contemporary in design, these boots sit on a sleek cone-shaped heel and slope to a smart pointed toe. Padding in the sock ensures a comfortable fit so they can be worn effortlessly from desk to dinner."
 |
| Kurt Geiger |
They are available in limited sizing at House of Fraser, John Lewis and Kurt Geiger.
Meghan's gorgeous handbag is the Strathberry Midi Tote in white navy and deep red (with thanks to Meghan's Mirror). The tote features a sleek design and beautiful leather construction. Strathberry is a Scottish luxury accessories brand. The tote is available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $675.
It can also be purchased in a wide selection of colours on the Strathberry website.
 |
| Strathberry |
We are seeing very clear signs of The Meghan Effect taking off. The Telegraph writes: Meghan Markle boosts two British brands in Nottingham - with her bag selling out in minutes:
'Markle’s beige skirt was bought from the cult label Joseph, priced at £595. Sunderland-born creative director Louise Trotter has worked hard to reinvigorate the brand in recent years, bringing it onto the London Fashion Week schedule and making effortlessly cool pieces to covet. “It was a total surprise,” Trotter, fresh off the Eurostar, tells The Telegraph of the spotting. “I’m thrilled that Meghan chose to wear Joseph on her first public official outing with Prince Harry. The skirt is from the autumn 2017 runway collection and is a take on a classic chino military skirt that's sliced, with added pleats and volume.”
Similarly, despite a well-documented new-found passion for Somerset-made Mulberry bags, Markle kept things understated by choosing a tote by Edinburgh-based Strathberry. Ironically, Markle's tri-colour design is only sold at the department store Saks on New York’s Fifth Avenue, but the brand has confirmed to The Telegraph that they sent her the style a few weeks ago. With prices starting at £225 for their luxury leather bags, she is perhaps showing an understanding that she needs to give fans a glimpse of something they will be able to buy themselves.
"We are thrilled and honoured to see Meghan Markle carrying our Strathberry Midi Tote," a spokesperson for the brand told us this morning. "It was a fantastic surprise to see that Meghan selected one of our core Strathberry styles to carry on her first royal engagement. We are delighted at the news of her and Harry’s engagement and wish them all the best for this exciting period."
A nice video from CBC News.
During their engagement interview, Meghan spoke of beginning a new chapter of her life. That chapter successfully started today, not only for her as she prepares to become a royal, but for the Royal family in general. She must have been nervous. When they arrived initially I thought she looked a little taken aback, however, the moment she began meeting people and shaking hands she appeared completely at ease. Her excitement at the welcome she received was evident and she really took the time to talk to people. As people who met Meghan said, she's a natural. At the engagements she was completely professional - one would think she had been doing it for years. I very much enjoyed seeing Meghan combine pieces from her own wardrobe with British brands. It was also wonderful to see how affectionate Harry and Meghan were with each other throughout the day too. These two make one terrific pairing. :)
Nottingham gave them a very warm welcome for the first of many engagements in the months ahead. I would class today as a resounding success, well done Meghan!