Meghan Markle Makes First Public U.K. Appearance Since Move, Joining Ellen DeGeneres at Cotswolds Pub

Meghan Markle has made her first photographed public appearance in the U.K. since returning from California with Prince Harry, and the setting was a familiar one: a relaxed afternoon at a Cotswolds pub with longtime friend Ellen DeGeneres.

The Duchess of Sussex, 45, was photographed on Monday, September 21, at The Three Horseshoes near Burford, Oxfordshire, where she met up with DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. The appearance came less than a month after Meghan and Harry returned to Britain on August 26 with their children.

The reunion quickly drew attention online, in part because of DeGeneres’ controversial history surrounding allegations about the workplace culture on her former daytime talk show and because Markle herself has previously faced allegations concerning her treatment of palace staff.

Meghan Markle Steps Out in the Cotswolds

Meghan was photographed arriving at the pub in white skinny jeans and a loose pale-blue blouse, accompanied by a bodyguard.

The casual outing offered the first clear public images of Meghan in Britain since the Sussexes’ move back to the country. Prince Harry was not with her at the pub. He was in London for the 2026 WellChild Awards, making his own public appearance while Meghan spent the afternoon in Oxfordshire.

The setting also brought together two parts of Meghan’s life. DeGeneres and de Rossi were previously neighbors of the Sussexes in Montecito, California, and the two couples have maintained a friendship for years.

Meghan and Harry were among the guests at DeGeneres and de Rossi’s surprise vow renewal ceremony in 2023. The couple also attended the 805 Live benefit that year alongside the Sussexes and other well-known figures, including Oprah Winfrey.

DeGeneres and de Rossi moved to the Cotswolds in 2024, shortly after Donald Trump was elected to a second term as U.S. president. The couple had previously sold their sprawling Montecito property for $32.5 million after a major restoration.

The Sussexes, meanwhile, have continued to hold on to their Montecito mansion despite their decision to return to Britain.

Portia de Rossi and Meghan’s California Friend Also Joined the Gathering

DeGeneres was not the only familiar face from Meghan’s California circle at the outing.

Portia de Rossi was also photographed with the group at The Three Horseshoes. The couple’s reunion with Meghan comes as all three settle into life in the English countryside after years of living in Southern California.

Meghan’s longtime friend Kelly McKee Zajfen also appeared to be enjoying the pub outing that afternoon.

Zajfen, a philanthropist and one of Meghan’s close friends in Montecito, shared a photograph from the British pub while holding her six-month-old son, Jack. She captioned the post, “First fish n chips. Loved!” as she celebrated the baby enjoying the classic British meal.

Zajfen has previously helped Meghan maintain connections to the Los Angeles philanthropic and entertainment world. In March, she brought Meghan as her guest to The Alliance for Children’s Rights 34th Annual Champions For Children Gala.

Zajfen also accompanied Meghan to the 2024 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala, where she serves as a “heart ambassador” for the organization.

The gathering therefore brought together several people from Meghan’s established California circle as she begins building a new routine in Britain.

The Ellen DeGeneres Controversy Has Followed the Reunion

The friendship attracted particular attention because DeGeneres’ public image changed dramatically after allegations about the working environment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show emerged in 2020.

Former employees accused the show of creating a hostile workplace and raised allegations involving bullying, racism and other misconduct. WarnerMedia subsequently investigated the complaints. Three senior producers, Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and Jonathan Norman, later left the program following the investigation.

DeGeneres addressed the controversy publicly and apologized to staff, saying that problems had occurred on the show that should not have happened. The program subsequently underwent staffing and workplace changes.

Those earlier allegations resurfaced in the reaction to photographs of Meghan and DeGeneres together in Oxfordshire.

Some critics on X used the reunion to draw comparisons between the controversies surrounding the two women. One post described them as “two reportedly accused bullies,” while another criticized Meghan’s choice of company and referenced allegations involving both women.

A third critic focused on the fact that Meghan was photographed having drinks at a pub rather than attending an event involving children. Another questioned why her bodyguard appeared to be carrying her bag.

Those comments represent the views of individual social-media users rather than established findings about the two women.

Meghan Markle Has Also Faced Bullying Allegations

The online criticism also revived a separate controversy involving Meghan’s years as a working member of the British royal family.

Several former staff members made allegations about Meghan’s conduct toward palace employees. Meghan has strongly denied the accusations.

Buckingham Palace launched an independent investigation in March 2021 after the allegations emerged. The review was completed in June 2022, but the palace decided not to publish its findings.

A senior palace source said the decision was made to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the people who participated in the review. The palace did confirm that changes were made to its human-resources policies and procedures following the investigation, although the details were not made public.

Because the report itself was never released, its findings cannot be independently assessed from the public record.

The controversy did not end with Meghan and Harry’s departure from royal duties. Reports have also focused on staff turnover surrounding the Sussexes in California, including changes among members of their communications and public-relations teams.

The original claims about the palace investigation, however, remain allegations that Meghan has denied, while the findings of the review remain confidential.

A Familiar Friendship in a New Chapter

For Meghan, the pub visit represents a visible return to everyday life in Britain after the Sussexes’ move from California.

She and Harry relocated to the U.K. with their two children on August 26, 2026, after years of living in Montecito. Since then, Harry has appeared at several public engagements, while Meghan has largely remained out of the spotlight.

Her meeting with DeGeneres and de Rossi offered a glimpse of the social circle she has carried with her from California into her new life in the Cotswolds.

For critics, however, the choice of company immediately became part of the conversation because both women have previously faced public allegations about their treatment of others.

For now, the photographs from The Three Horseshoes show something considerably more ordinary: Meghan reconnecting with longtime friends over an afternoon in the English countryside, surrounded by people she has known since her years in California.