Prince Harry and Meghan Markle turn heads with a sweet and cosy date night at a Cotswolds pub

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been photographed together in Britain for the first time since returning to the UK with their children in August, choosing a low-key pub lunch in the Cotswolds for their latest public appearance.

Harry and Meghan make first joint appearance

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen holding hands as they arrived at The Falkland Arms in Great Tew, Oxfordshire, on Thursday, 1 October. Photographs published by The Sun showed the couple dressed casually as they walked towards the pub, with both wearing sunglasses.

The outing was notable because, although Harry and Meghan have each made appearances in Britain since their return, they had not previously been photographed together in public.

PEOPLE reported that the couple's family returned to England in late August, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, beginning school in the UK. The family continues to maintain its home in Montecito, California, while the location of their UK residence has been kept private.

For the pub visit, Meghan wore a black jumper with dark trousers and white trainers. Harry was seen in jeans, a jacket and a Santa Barbara Fire Department baseball cap, a detail that offered a reminder of the couple's continuing connection to their California home.

A quiet lunch in the Cotswolds

According to The Sun, Meghan ordered gluten-free beer-battered haddock and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce, while Harry had chicken, ham and leek pie with seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy.

A source at the pub told The Sun that the couple were treated in the same way as other customers.

“When they visited, Harry and Meghan just acted like locals,” the source said, adding that visitors to the pub are treated alike regardless of who they are.

The choice of a local pub also offered a markedly different setting from some of Harry's recent appearances in Britain. Since the family's return, he has attended charity and public events, including the WellChild Awards and a London gala supporting Ukraine.

Meghan, meanwhile, has largely stayed out of the public spotlight while the family adjusts to life in Britain. She has continued working on her lifestyle brand, As Ever, while also sharing occasional glimpses of the family's life in the UK.

Their return comes amid security concerns

The couple's return to Britain has not been without complications. Their children's schooling became a particular concern after photographers were reportedly seen around the perimeter of their school.

PEOPLE reported that two men were observed by school staff and private security monitoring the school grounds. One was later identified by police as an international photographer working for a European press agency. The Sussexes' spokesperson described the incident as an unacceptable intrusion into the children's privacy.

The children subsequently changed schools shortly after starting the new term, with the couple's spokesperson saying the decision followed discussions with their security team about the practicalities of their arrangements.

Against that backdrop, Harry and Meghan's quiet pub outing provides one of the clearest public glimpses yet of their return to everyday life in Britain.