Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been spotted together for the first time since their return to England. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were photographed outside The Falkland Arms, a 16th-century pub and boutique inn in Great Tew, Oxfordshire, on the edge of the Cotswolds. They arrived on Thursday walking hand-in-hand.
Outfits
Both kept things casual for the outing. Meghan wore a turtleneck with dark pants and white sneakers, while Harry opted for jeans and a navy blue puffer jacket.
What they ate
Their order was classic pub fare.
- Meghan had fish and chips: haddock breaded in gluten-free beer batter, served with fries, mashed peas, and tartar sauce.
- Harry went for chicken, ham, and leek pie with vegetables, mashed potatoes, and gravy.
Back in the UK
After years spent in California, Harry and Meghan moved back to the UK in late August, with children Archie and Lilibet in tow. For this chapter, the son of King Charles III and his family have made their home in the Cotswolds, the region west of London known for privacy and its popularity with celebrities and the otherwise well-to-do.
They may also be getting to know The Falkland Arms quickly. Meghan dined there last week with friend Kelly McKee Zajfen and her infant son.
"Royal treatment" at the pub
Inside, the tone sounded consistent with the pub's standard approach. A regular described it this way:
"Everyone here gets the royal treatment. It doesn’t matter who you are. We’re lucky to get lots of different people visiting us, and everyone is treated like a local. When they visited, Harry and Meghan just acted like locals."
Security concerns
In recent days, the Sussexes' return has also come with challenges. Two days after the start of the school year, the couple reportedly moved their children to a different school due to safety concerns. Their security team deemed the route from home to the school too long and too busy, and the Sussexes felt it could make their vehicle a target.
Spokesperson statement
On Thursday, Harry and Meghan issued a statement through their spokesperson condemning the presence of paparazzi near the new school attended by Archie (7) and Lilibet (5).
"The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless. There is a world of difference between legitimate media activity and photographers walking the perimeter of a school, stopping to look into the grounds and monitoring children as they go about their day."
"It is concerning enough that certain European paparazzi appear unwilling to respect the privacy of children at school. But to behave in this manner in these particular circumstances, and so soon after the incident at RAF Fairford, demonstrates an extraordinary lack of judgment."
"Whatever photographs they may have been seeking, this was not only an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children. It was an irresponsible and ill-considered way to conduct themselves in the vicinity of a school."
The statement referenced an alleged terror plot at RAF Fairford.
A familiar stop
The Falkland Arms visit offered a clear snapshot of the Sussexes out and about in their new UK base: a hand-holding arrival, a countryside pub, and an unmistakably British meal.