Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MEG: IT’S NICE TO BE BACK...
But Archie’s left in Canada
THE Duchess of Sussex has made her first public appearance in Britain since she and Harry announced they were quitting as senior royals.
As she presented a gong at an awards ceremony, Meghan said: “It’s very nice to be back.”
The couple giggled under an umbrella in the pouring rain as they arrived for the event.
Meghan jetted in from their new home in Canada. Their 10-month-old son Archie stayed behind, to be cared for by a nanny and protected by taxpayer-funded bodyguards.
There was one loud boo amid the cheers as Harry and Meghan arrived at the Endeavour Fund Awards, which honour the achievements of wounded and sick service personnel.
At a reception, the couple chatted to Claire Spencer, 52, whose husband Lee was nominated for an award.
Claire complimented Meghan on how amazing she looked given that she had recently had a baby. Claire said later: “She said, ‘oh yes, well he is 10 months and is into everything.”
Asked what she thought of Harry’s decision to step back as a working royal, she said:
“He does an amazing job, as does she, and we should just let them live the life they want to live.”
Meghan, 38, wore a blue Victoria Beckham dress – costing about £950 – last night as they began their final run of royal duties.
Harry, 35, wore a suit and tie. The Duke and Duchess – sat in the audience beside TV star Ross Kemp, 55 – cheered during a marriage proposal at the ceremony at Mansion House in Central London.
Meghan had not been seen in this country since she and Harry made the dramatic announcement on January 8 they were quitting public life.
The bombshell plunged the Royal Family into turmoil.
Harry, who has to give up his official patronages, is being allowed to retain his private links with organisations such as the Endeavour Fund.
The ceremony is among a handful of engagements the pair will undertake in the UK in the coming days before returning to Canada ahead of their official departure on March 31.
Their last official appearance with the title HRH will be alongside the Queen at the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey on Monday.
The couple plan to split their time between Canada and Britain. They were last seen together on an official engagement on January 7 in London.