Hundreds of eager royal-watchers have gathered for a glimpse of Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle, who stepped out on their first official engagement together since announcing plans to wed in the new year.
Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, went on a walkabout in the central English city of Nottingham, meeting members of the public as a couple for the first time.
The two were due to visit an Aids Day charity fair at a museum and a school taking part in a programme to combat youth violence.
"Ms Markle cannot wait to meet many of the young people Prince Harry has told her so much about," Harry's spokesman Jason Knauf said before the visit.
In their engagement interview on Monday, Markle said she wanted to get to know the "different communities" which make up Britain.
The couple will be going on a six-month tour of Britain before their marriage in May at Windsor Castle, the weekend residence of Harry's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and the place where he was baptised.
Mr Knauf said Harry had visited Nottingham many times, and he was "looking forward to introducing Ms Markle to a community that has become very special to him".
Crowds of curious and excited onlookers packed the streets of Nottingham on Friday, including avid fan Irene Hardman.
The 81-year-old is well-known for handing bags of Haribo sweets to Harry, and first presented his father, the Prince of Wales, with two bags - the other for brother William - 20 years ago.
"It is absolutely wonderful and fantastic, and we privileged they've chosen Nottingham to be their first official engagement," Ms Hardman said.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement on Monday through Prince Charles. Source: AAP
She has a goody bag ready to hand over, including copies of the local paper and two fridge magnets "so they don't fight over it".
The city and its people are close to Harry's heart, with the visit his third public trip there since October last year.
But it marks the first formal visit by the couple in what will be a six-month tour of the UK, allowing the American former actress to get to know her new home.
Betty Parker, 78, from Sneinton, Nottingham, said "We love him", and of Ms Markle "She's beautiful".
Asked what she thought of the engagement, she added: "We really wish them all the very best - they're a lovely couple."
Frank Shelton, of Carlton, Nottinghamshire, turned up with Kim, an eight-year-old barn owl which goes everywhere with him, and said he was there as "a fan of William and Harry".
It was announced earlier this week that the royal couple are set to tie the knot at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle in May next year.
Prince Harry interacts with fans during a royal visit to Nottingham. Source: AAP
Mary Cooper, 60, who had been waiting to see the prince and his bride-to-be since before 9am, said: "I think it's absolutely wonderful that both he and his brother have found happiness."
Nikita Sahni, 17, who turned up with friends from Nottingham Girls' High School, said of the engagement: "She'll be good for the royal family, modernising it and making it more accessible."
The couple will begin their city tour with a civic welcome at the National Justice Museum in Nottingham's historic Lace Market district.
They will then take in other engagements in the city.
- with AFP
