All eyes were on Nottingham today as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped out for their first official appearance together since returning to the UK. The series of engagements appeared to be a success, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were met with cheering crowds upon their arrival. While Harry then had a private meeting with executives to hear about how his previous donation to BBC Children in Need was being used, Meghan met with a group of girls from Bluebell Hill Primary School for a “confidence-building and bracelet-making session”, and revealed sweet details about Princess Lilibet and cracked jokes with the kids.

Joining the schoolgirls aged 10 to 11, Meghan joked, “You’re very quiet all of a sudden”, before sitting down at the first table, where the girls had cards asking, “When do you feel most yourself?”

“My daughter is doing gymnastics right now; she loves it. I feel most like myself when I’m with my family and also when I cook. I love to cook, do you? Experimenting?”

She also told one child in a sweet moment, “Sometimes you have to remember to be kind to yourself. And remember to talk to ourselves as we talk to our best friends.” She also gave each child seated around the three tables a handwritten card with an inspirational paragraph to take home.

Of Meghan’s time with the young girls, Georgia Devon-Shelley, who hosted the session, said: “She was really engaging and incredibly kind and genuine. With anyone she met, even briefly in passing, she remembered their names.”

“They both gave everyone time and energy. This session was about building confidence, and that was certainly achieved.”

As they spoke with crowds before their scheduled visits, Meghan revealed her favourite role: being a mum. Footage filmed by an attendee captured Meghan chatting to two young boys at the barrier, where she revealed the role she values most.