Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Hold Hands on Cotswolds Pub Date in First Photos Together Since UK Return
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been photographed together for the first time since returning to the UK, choosing a low-key pub lunch in the Cotswolds for their latest outing.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen holding hands as they walked towards The Falkland Arms in Great Tew, Oxfordshire, on Thursday, October 1. The appearance came after the family returned to Britain in August following six years in California.
The couple kept their outfits casual. Harry wore jeans, a jacket, sunglasses and a Santa Barbara Fire Department baseball cap — a subtle reminder of the couple’s former home in nearby Montecito, California. Meghan opted for a relaxed black outfit with white sneakers and sunglasses.
A relaxed lunch at a historic Cotswolds pub
The Falkland Arms dates back to the 16th century and provided the setting for the couple’s quiet afternoon together.
According to reports, 45-year-old Meghan ordered gluten-free beer-battered haddock and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce. Harry, 42, chose chicken, ham and leek pie with seasonal greens, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy.
A pub insider told The Sun that neither Harry nor Meghan received special treatment during their visit.
“Everyone here gets the royal treatment — it doesn’t matter who you are,” the source said. “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.”
The outing offered a notably ordinary picture of the couple as they continue adjusting to life back in Britain.
Security concerns have followed their return
Their return to the UK has not been entirely straightforward, particularly when it comes to the security of their children.
Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, were initially enrolled at a British prep school but left after only two days following discussions between their parents and security team. Concerns reportedly centred on the practicalities of the school journey, including traffic and the distance involved.
The family also faced another security concern after Meghan’s personal phone number was reportedly leaked following her joining a WhatsApp group for parents at the school.
More recently, photographers were reported near the children’s new school. Two men were seen walking around the perimeter and looking into the grounds, prompting a strong response from the Sussexes’ spokesperson, who described the behaviour as “extraordinarily reckless” and an unacceptable intrusion into the children’s privacy. Police later established that the men were international photographers working for a European press agency.
“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,” the spokesperson told Page Six.
The spokesperson also said it was “concerning” that members of the European paparazzi appeared unwilling to respect the children’s privacy at school.
Harry says the children are happy
Despite the security concerns surrounding their school arrangements, Harry recently offered a positive update about Archie and Lilibet.
Speaking to CTV last week, he said his children “are happy in school”.
The Duke also reflected on the family’s return to Britain, saying: “It’s been great to be back on British soil.”
The Cotswolds pub outing now offers one of the clearest public glimpses yet of Harry and Meghan together since their August return, as the couple continue settling into their new chapter in the UK.
