Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle was praised as a “complete natural” after her public life began with accomplished appearances meeting well-wishers, charity workers and students.
With Harry by her side, Ms Markle’s introduction to her future role as a royal started with a whirlwind walkabout in Nottingham, where hundreds of excited well-wishers chanted the couple’s names or stretched out hands to greet them.
The red-haired prince is known as the joker of the royal family but one fan cheekily asked: “How does it feel being a ginger with Meghan?'”
Grinning the former Army officer, who travelled with his partner to Nottingham by train, replied “It’s great, isn’t it?”, when the man said the word “unbelievable?”, Harry responded “unbelievable”.
Harry and Meghan were wrapped up warmly (PA)
The couple also met delegates at an event marking World Aids Day and one guest described the prince and his fiancee as “a perfect match” adding: “This may have been her first official engagement, but she was a complete natural at it.”
The public meet-and-greet was planned by the prince, 33, to introduce his bride-to-be to a city and its people close to his heart.
In scenes reminiscent of the early days of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s married life, a sea of camera phones greeted their arrival along with chants of “Harry, Harry” and “Meghan, Meghan”.
The American former actress, 36, who wore a classic navy maxi-length coat by Canadian brand Mackage, appeared to take the outpouring of affection and interest from the well-wishers in her stride, looking confident as she greeted the crowds with a smile and handshake.
As the walkabout progressed, outside the National Justice Museum in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market district, a woman asked Harry’s fiancee how she felt about being in the city and she replied: “I’m so happy, it’s real good to be here.”
The couple’s love was clear to see in the way they continually touched each other, held hands and glanced into each other’s eyes.
In the nearby Nottingham Contemporary art centre, the couple lent their support to a World Aids Day charity fair hosted by the Terrence Higgins Trust, and both wore red ribbons to show their solidarity.
Meghan Markle meets a child at the Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair (Adrian Dennis/PA)
Chris O’Hanlon, who is a peer mentor for Positively UK, a charity which helps people newly diagnosed with HIV, talked to the couple about his own diagnosis and the importance of fitness in dealing with illness.
He said: “They seem amazingly comfortable together. You can see that it’s a perfect match. This may have been her first official engagement, but she was a complete natural at it.”
During the event the prince and Ms Markle listened attentively, as they were shown a UK Aids Memorial Quilt, one of 48 nationally whose different patchwork panels made by friends and lovers pay tribute to those lost to HIV/Aids.
The final event saw the couple visit Nottingham Academy to meet headteachers taking part in the Full Effect programme.
The project provides early intervention and training to children and young people in the St Ann’s area of Nottingham who may become involved in youth violence and crime.
Harry and Ms Markle chatted with Full Effect mentor Chantelle Stefanovic, 30, who recently spoke about the issues facing children and young people in St Ann’s at the inaugural summit of the Obama Foundation in Chicago attended by Harry.
She was presented with a framed picture of herself, Harry and Barack Obama, taken at the summit, by the couple.
Ms Stefanovic said: “Meeting Meghan today was absolutely wonderful, the girls really took to her and their support is just fantastic for us.”