Harry and Meghan appeared together in public in Nottingham after returning to the United Kingdom, where they were welcomed by a crowd. Palace spokespeople said they remain private citizens and are not working royals: Prince Harry would focus on charitable work, while Meghan would pursue lifestyle products and acting. The reasons for their return and their intended role were not clear, prompting questions about whether they sought a partly royal public life or closer ties with the royal family.

Their return coincided with a review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, under the British Home Office, of their entitlement to taxpayer-funded security. State protection ended after they stopped being working royals, and Harry has continued to seek police protection for his family in the United Kingdom, including through the courts. The cost has been estimated at more than £5 million. Harry offered to pay for the protection himself, but that was rejected. A YouGov poll found that a majority of Britons believed the state should not fund the couple’s security, with older people particularly critical of them.