Prince Harry’s Latest U.K. Outing Holds a Special Connection to Meghan Markle

Prince Harry is returning to a city close to his heart as he continues his visit in the U.K.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, visited Nottingham, England, on Sept. 9, a place that has special significance for the prince. It was here, in December 2017, just days after announcing their engagement, that he brought then-fiancée Meghan Markle to meet everyday Britons during their first official joint royal duty.

His visit came the morning after he arrived in the U.K., following a day in which he paid tribute to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, on the anniversary of her death, and celebrated young people facing serious health challenges, their families, and the medical staff who support them at the 20th anniversary WellChild Awards in London.

Prince Harry visited Nottingham’s Community Recording Studio in the St. Ann’s area on Tuesday to meet social action groups and local charities. He is set to announce a major donation to BBC’s long-running Children in Need initiative, supporting programs that tackle violence affecting young people.

Harry arrived shortly at about 12 p.m. local time to cheers from a small group of well-wishers who’d gathered on the sidewalk. As he was greeted at the door, someone called out ‘You brought the sunshine with you,’ and he smiled.

He looked relaxed and happy to be back in a city that’s become very familiar to him after several visits in the last decade.

The event also brought together key stakeholders, influencers, and potential funders to celebrate and support grassroots organizations, including the recording studio, community outreach group Epic Partners and Coach Core, which nurtures young sports coaches. Coach Core was a cause that Harry and Meghan once championed alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton during their joint royal initiatives.

Nottingham, in England’s East Midlands, holds deep connections for Harry from his years as a working royal. He often visited the city for official duties, including a 2019 World Mental Health Day visit to programs teaching children about emotional well-being, and collaborations with local youth groups aimed at tackling knife crime.

In May of this year, he further strengthened his ties to Nottingham by supporting the social justice organization Himmah with a “significant donation.”

Reflecting on his connection to the city, Harry said in a statement, “Nottingham holds a special place in my heart, having had the privilege of visiting and supporting the community there for over a decade. The incredible work Himmah does to address food insecurity, poverty, and social exclusion should be recognised and applauded. I’m happy to be able to play a small part in your mission to bring communities together by creating opportunities and support for those facing hardship.”

Director Sajid Mohammed said in a statement at the time, “I could not believe it when we got the email. To have been chosen by such a high-profile royal once is amazing, but to have been supported by Prince Harry too left us completely gobsmacked and hugely humbled.”

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When Harry and Meghan visited in 2017, crowds gathered outside the National Justice Museum to greet them with cheers. Meghan, wearing a navy coat, gently rested her hand on Harry’s back as they made their way along the barriers. “They are a lovely couple. They looked lovely together,” one fan told PEOPLE at the time.

Meghan and their two children — Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4 — are not accompanying Harry on his U.K. visit. He has said he doesn’t feel he can bring his family to his birth country. After losing a legal appeal against a government decision that removed his automatic police protection in Britain, he told the BBC on May 2, “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.”