The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Meghan wows the crowds
Royals: Harry’ s fiancee hailed ‘complete natural’ on first public appearance
Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle was praised as a “complete natural” after her public life began with accomplished appearances meeting wellwishers, charity workers and students.
With Harry by her side, Ms Markle’s introduction to her future role as a royal started with a whirlwind walkabout in Nottingham, where hundreds of excited well-wishers chanted the couple’s names or stretched out hands to greet them.
The red-haired prince is known as the joker of the royal family but one fan cheekily asked: “How does it feel being a ginger with Meghan?”’
Grinning the former Army officer, who travelled with his partner to Nottingham by train, replied “It’s great, isn’t it?”, when the man said the word “unbelievable?”, Harry responded “unbelievable”.
The couple also met delegates at an event marking World Aids Day and one guest described the prince and his fiancee as “a perfect match” adding: “This may have been her first official engagement, but she was a complete natural at it.”
The public meet-andgreet was planned by the prince, 33, to introduce his bride-to-be to a city and its people close to his heart.
In scenes reminiscent of the early days of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s married life, a sea of camera phones greeted their arrival along with chants of “Harry, Harry” and “Meghan, Meghan”.
The American former actress, 36, who wore a classic navy maxi-length coat by Canadian brand Mackage, appeared to take the outpouring of affection and interest from the wellwishers in her stride, looking confident as she greeted the crowds with a smile and handshake.
As the walkabout progressed, outside the National Justice Museum in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market district, a woman asked Harry’s fiancee how she felt about being in the city and she replied: “I’m so happy, it’s real good to be here.”
The couple’s love was clear to see in the way they continually touched each other, held hands and glanced into each other’s eyes.
In the nearby Nottingham Contemporary art centre, the couple lent their support to a World Aids Day charity fair hosted by the Terrence Higgins Trust, and both wore red ribbons to show their solidarity.
Chris O’Hanlon, who is a peer mentor for Positively UK, a charity which helps people newly diagnosed with HIV, talked to the couple about his own diagnosis
“I’m so happy, it’s real good to be here”