Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a surprise joint appearance at Kevin Costner‘s starry charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday.
The 44-year-old Suits alum joined her husband at the One805LIVE! concert which took place at the Yellowstone actor’s oceanside estate – with other celebrities in attendance such as Oprah Winfrey.
The couple’s latest outing together comes just weeks after Prince Harry, 41, reunited with his father King Charles for the first time in 18 months for a face-to-face meeting in London.
Meghan donned a sleeveless, dark navy dress as well as a pair of stylish pumps for the outdoor event – which helps raise funds for local fire, police and sheriff departments.
Her brunette locks were parted to the side and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.
Harry was stylishly casual in a black button up which was paired with a pair of black trousers and a blazer on top.
Meghan Markle, 44, and Prince Harry, 41, made a surprise joint appearance at Kevin Costner’s starry charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday
Meghan donned a sleeveless, dark navy dress as well as a pair of stylish pumps for the outdoor event – which helps raise funds for local fire, police and sheriff departments
Meghan and Harry were seen arriving to the venue and began to mingle with other guests at the charity concert.
The actress flashed a cheerful smile and at one point, shared a friendly embrace with one of the other attendees.
The couple – who tied the knot in 2018 – took time to talk with first responders and law enforcement who were also at the event over the weekend.
Meghan and Harry then took to the stage to address the crowd and cozied up together as the Duke of Sussex said a few words.
The concert is an ‘annual benefit concert, bringing together legendary artists and passionate supporters to raise funds for essential equipment and mental wellness programs for Santa Barbara County’s first responders,’ per the official website.
Music artists that performed on stage included Trisha Yearwood, Good Charlotte and also The Fray.
Oprah Winfrey also stopped by the event on Saturday in a fashionable ensemble – and has had a close relationship with Meghan and Harry over the years.
Back in 2021, the couple sat down for an explosive interview with the TV personality as the pair made allegations against the Royal Family. In recent months, there have been rumors Oprah is taking a step back from her friendship with Meghan.
The Suits alum joined her husband at the One805LIVE! concert which took place at the Yellowstone actor’s oceanside estate – with other celebrities in attendance such as Oprah Winfrey
Her brunette locks were parted to the side and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves
Harry was stylishly casual in a black button up which was paired with a pair of black trousers and a blazer on top
Meghan and Harry were seen arriving to the venue and began to mingle with other guests at the charity concert
The couple – who tied the knot in 2018 – took time to talk with first responders and law enforcement who were also at the event over the weekend
Meghan and Harry then took to the stage to address the crowd and cozied up together as the Duke of Sussex said a few words
The concert is an ‘annual benefit concert, bringing together legendary artists and passionate supporters to raise funds for essential equipment and mental wellness programs for Santa Barbara County’s first responders,’ per the official website
Harry was seen petting a dog as he joined first responders on the stage
Oprah Winfrey also stopped by the event on Saturday in a fashionable ensemble – and has had a close relationship with Meghan and Harry over the years
And now high-level talks are under way to gradually bring Charles and Harry together in a public show of unity for the first time in at least six years.
The last time the pair appeared on their own and happy together at an official engagement was in April 2019 at the ‘Our Planet’ global premiere in the Natural History Museum in London.
Since Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020, they have only been pictured with other family members at the state funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.
An appearance together of the King and Harry would be interpreted as thawing of their relationship and the acceptance of the Duke – and Meghan and their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four – back into the royal fold after several years of bitter recrimination between Harry and his family.
The move comes as relations allegedly sour between the King and the Prince of Wales amid claims Charles is ‘unhappy’ that William’s workload is less than his own. In turn, his heir is said to be angry about the meeting with Harry.
Sources have given insight into the cautious plans being drawn up to resolve the crisis.
Some of these plans include the Duke possibly taking part in more UK public events, though not officially as a working member of the Royal Family.
Harry is said to be ‘hopeful’ of re-establishing a relationship with William despite the froideur between them since Megxit.
Despite the cautious positive steps, Harry is said to be ‘realistic’ that some reputational damage from the last few years is irreversible.
But after last week, many royal commentators agreed that Harry was back in his element, meeting the public and larking around for the cameras with children.
The warm public reaction to him did not go unnoticed at the Palace, sources insist, where working members of the Royal Family – particularly those keen to do the bread-and-butter public engagements – are in short supply.
A source said: ‘Harry’s visit to the UK was not about trying to show up or compete with his brother – in fact, the opposite.
‘It was to remind William that Harry can be there to take some of the load off, given some of the criticism William has received for carrying out a lower number of engagements than his father.
‘That doesn’t need to be as part of the “working” Royal Family. It can just be doing what he loves to do and does best – supporting causes close to them both, such as the Diana Award and conservation.
‘More than anything, though, he wants to see his father more. He wants to make him proud and be there to support him through his treatment.’
But after last week, many royal commentators agreed that Harry was back in his element, meeting the public and larking around for the ca
A source said: ‘Harry’s visit to the UK was not about trying to show up or compete with his brother – in fact, the opposite’
Meghan and Harry took time to greet other guests as they arrived to the outdoor charity concert
The actress held a big smile on her face as she was seen joining her husband at the event
On his later trip to Kyiv, when asked about meeting the King, all Harry would say was that in the coming year ‘the focus really has to be on my dad’
On his later trip to Kyiv, when asked about meeting the King, all Harry would say was that in the coming year ‘the focus really has to be on my dad.’
As part of rebuilding trust between the pair, Harry agreed, at the King’s request, to avoid any publicity which would distract from President Trump’s visit.
The Sussex royal household were given two days off to coincide with the trip and Harry ensured he did not carry out any engagements at home or abroad, and was not photographed at his home in Montecito, California.
But Harry, who plans to come to the UK ‘four or five times’ a year from now on, is said to be hopeful that he can at least find a working relationship with William.
‘Whatever he can do to continue rebuilding those relationships and that trust, he will do,’ a source said.
If the King does play a significant role in rehabilitating Harry, it will not be the first time he has done this for someone close.
He faced an uphill battle to have Camilla accepted publicly and worked closely with his mother on a message she issued during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Royal sources now believe the same could happen for Harry.
Buckingham Palace and a spokesman for the Duke of Sussex declined to comment.
