Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s relaxed pub outing in the Cotswolds may have looked like an ordinary lunch between a couple enjoying a day out—but some sources now claim the carefully photographed appearance was anything but spontaneous.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were pictured holding hands as they visited the Falkland Arms pub near Great Tew in Oxfordshire last Thursday. Their affectionate appearance has since prompted claims that Meghan may have been sending a deliberate public message through the photographs.
According to The Sun, the couple appeared to settle into the pub like any other visitors. Meghan reportedly ordered a £18.25 serving of gluten-free beer-battered haddock and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce, while Harry chose a £17.95 chicken, ham and leek pie served with seasonal greens, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Wellington, New Zealand in 2018 (Image: Getty)
Claims the pub pictures were planned
The apparently candid photographs have now attracted speculation over how they came about.
Celebrity journalist Rob Shuter wrote on his Substack that sources close to the couple believe the photographs were not an accidental encounter with a photographer.
One source claimed Meghan was behind the decision to be photographed together, saying: “This has Meghan’s fingerprints all over it.”
The source also alleged that Meghan understands the power of publicity and photography and knows the message that can be conveyed through a carefully chosen image.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoyed a pub lunch (Image: Getty)
Another media source questioned how a photographer could have captured such unobstructed pictures of the couple while they were holding hands.
“No pap got incredibly lucky here,” the source claimed, pointing to the positioning of Harry and Meghan in the photographs.
“Everything about these pictures says planned photo opportunity.”
The claims are allegations from unnamed sources and have not been independently confirmed.
Harry and Meghan reportedly acted like locals
Despite the attention surrounding their appearance, the couple were reportedly treated like ordinary customers once inside the Cotswolds pub.
A source told The Sun that the establishment welcomes visitors from all backgrounds and that everyone receives the same treatment.
“When they visited, Harry and Meghan just acted like locals,” the source said.
The outing offered a notably low-key image of the Sussexes, with the pair appearing relaxed as they spent time together away from their home in California.
Meghan teases “new surprises”
The pub photographs came as Meghan also hinted at upcoming developments through her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
In a new post on the brand’s Instagram account, the Duchess shared a photograph of herself cooking in a different kitchen from her usual one in Montecito.
She appeared dressed entirely in black with a black-and-white checked apron while preparing food in a pot over a gas stove.
The accompanying caption teased followers with the words: “The season of giving is almost here, and we have a few surprises in store.”
The post has added to the attention surrounding Meghan’s latest public activity, although it did not specify what the promised “new surprises” would be.
For now, the Cotswolds appearance has generated as much discussion about the circumstances behind the photographs as it has about the couple’s quiet pub lunch itself.