Prince Harry Says 'It's Been Great To Be Back on British Soil' Before Joint Nottingham Appearance

Prince Harry has said 'it's been great to be back on British soil' as he prepares for the Invictus Games in Birmingham and a reported joint engagement with Meghan Markle in Nottingham.

The Duke of Sussex is expected to be joined by the Duchess for what would be their first joint public appearance in Britain since returning from California, with the couple due to visit community organisations in Nottingham, according to reports.

Speaking to Canadian broadcaster CTV, Harry said: 'It's been great. It's been great to be back on British soil,' before adding: 'It's great to be back on terra firma, actually!'

The Duke also referred to his children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. 'The kids are happy in school and it gives me a chance to really focus on Invictus in Birmingham,' he said.

Harry and Meghan's Reported Nottingham Return

The Sussexes are expected to visit CRS Nottingham, where they would take part in an acting workshop. They are also reported to be joining women from the Grenfell Hubb Community Kitchen at a local food bank, and meeting Epic Partners, an organisation that supports young people through sport.

For context, the family returned to the UK from California on 26 August for an extended stay, according to contemporaneous reports. The Duke and Duchess are not working members of the Royal Family and have not announced plans to resume official royal duties.

Their return has prompted renewed discussion about their position outside the working Royal Family. Reports have also suggested that Archie and Lilibet have changed schools, although the reported reason, concerns raised by their security team about the school run, has not been confirmed by the couple.

IBTimes UK cannot independently verify those claims, so they should be treated with caution.

The planned visit would place the couple alongside community organisations, volunteers and young people. It would also bring Meghan back into contact with the Grenfell Hubb Community Kitchen, a group previously associated with her charitable work.

What Their UK Stay Could Signal

Harry described the family's return in positive terms, saying his children were happy at school and that he could focus on preparations for the Invictus Games. His comments offer a public account of the family's return, although their longer-term plans remain unclear.

The couple's reported Christmas plans may add some context. The Daily Mail reported that an unnamed friend said Harry and Meghan intend to spend the festive period at their home in Montecito, California. The source claimed the couple were trying to 'keep their heads down between now and Christmas, when they will go back to California for the holidays.'

That account remains unconfirmed. IBTimes UK cannot independently verify the reported holiday plans, so nothing is confirmed yet and the reports should be treated with caution.

The Duke and Duchess have also been reported by The Times to be positioning themselves as 'public figures' rather than 'private citizens'. The distinction matters because it shapes how they present themselves and which causes they choose to support, although neither Harry nor Meghan has publicly set out a detailed explanation of the arrangement.

Why the Nottingham Appearance Matters

The Nottingham engagement is expected to be the couple's first joint public appearance since their return to Britain. It comes as Harry turns his attention to Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, which the organisers have confirmed will run from 10 to 17 July 2027.

The Games are due to bring together 550 wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, along with their families, from 25 nations. They will compete across 12 adaptive sports at venues including the National Exhibition Centre and Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

Harry's CTV comments framed the Birmingham event as a central focus of his time in Britain, alongside family life. The Duke founded Invictus in 2014, and the 2027 Games will mark the competition's return to the UK.

Much remains unconfirmed, including the precise Nottingham schedule and any longer-term arrangements for the couple's stay in the UK. But the reported appearance would offer the first opportunity to see Harry and Meghan together at a public engagement since their return.

Harry's comments offer a public account of the family's return, although their longer-term plans remain unclear.