Meghan Markle and Malala Yousafzai share tea in London

Meghan Markle made her first public appearance since returning to the UK with Prince Harry, enjoying afternoon tea with Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai at Claridge’s in London on October 8 ^[1]. The Duchess of Sussex wore a long brown coat, cream sweater, and white wide-legged trousers, paired with pointed-toe flats and a Logan Hollowell emerald necklace valued at $21,150. Malala, 29, wore a tan blazer, striped pants, and a camel-colored headscarf, the pair chatting outside the historic hotel before sharing a warm embrace.

Their friendship dates back to a 2020 virtual discussion marking International Day of the Girl, where Malala wrote on X: "Meghan and I are on the same page. We both believe that when girls have access to education, everyone wins" ^[1].

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan are set to make their first joint public appearance since their return, heading to Nottingham this week ^[2]. They are expected to attend an acting workshop with CRS Nottingham, visit the Grenfell Hubb Community Kitchen food bank, and meet with Epic Partners, a youth sports initiative.

The couple, who left royal duties six years ago and lived in California, returned to Britain in late August after a six-year absence ^[2]. Since their arrival, they’ve been navigating public scrutiny over their royal status, with tensions reported between them and Buckingham Palace. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have changed schools due to security concerns during school runs.

Despite speculation, the Sussexes are not expected to attend Sandringham this Christmas, according to a friend cited by the Daily Mail ^[2]. Instead, they plan to spend the holidays at their multi-million-dollar home in Montecito, California, aiming to "keep their heads down" until then.

Harry recently told Canadian broadcaster CTV that life in the UK is going "great," praising his children’s happiness in school and his focus on the upcoming Invictus Games in Birmingham, set for July next year ^[2]. He added, "It's been great to be back on British soil. It's great to be back on terra firma, actually!" The story was first reported by E! News and Mirror.