Meghan Markle Steps Out for London Lunch Ahead of Nottingham Return
Meghan Markle stepped out for lunch near her former royal home on Wednesday, October 14, one day before heading north with Prince Harry.
The Duchess of Sussex was spotted arriving at The Park restaurant near Kensington Palace, according to an exclusive report from Hello Magazine. The outing came on the eve of the couple's joint visit to Nottingham on Thursday, October 15.
Her lunch guest was a familiar face. She was joined by hairstylist George Northwood, who created her low bun for her evening wedding reception in 2018. He also travelled with her on royal tours to Australia and Tonga.
She kept it casual. Meghan wore cropped jeans with a black M&S tuxedo blazer and nude Jennifer Chamandi heels. The pair spent two hours at the restaurant.
The setting was close to old ground. The Park is a New York-inspired restaurant in Queensway, London, a short distance from Kensington Palace. Meghan and Harry once lived at Nottingham Cottage on the palace grounds.
The timing was no accident. Nottingham is next on the diary. The couple will carry out three engagements in the city, as detailed by the Nottingham Post. Stops include the Community Recording Studio in St Ann's and the Himmah Hub, where they are scheduled to join meals, cooking classes and packing of food parcels for a foodbank.
It is billed as their first official joint outing since returning to the UK, according to People. Nottingham also holds personal history for Meghan. The city was where she made her first royal engagement after her engagement to Harry was announced in 2017.
The lunch follows a run of sightings. Meghan dined with Malala Yousafzai at Claridge's in London on October 7, in what was described as her first London outing since moving back to Britain. Earlier reports also noted a girls' lunch with former Montecito neighbours and a date day with Harry at the Falkland Arms, after she kept a low profile following a return to the UK in August.
For fans, this means a quick glimpse of the routine behind the public visits. A long lunch with a trusted stylist, a relaxed outfit, and then straight back to work.
