Meghan Markle Spotted at an English Pub with a Famous Friend — and Fans Are Zeroing In on One Accessory Detail — Photos

The former television actress made her photographed return to English public life look delightfully casual, but her famous companion and one conspicuously empty hand gave spectators far more to discuss than a country-pub lunch.

Meghan Markle was spotted at the Three Horseshoes near Burford, Oxfordshire, on Monday, September 21, 2026, marking her first photographed public appearance since moving back to England with Prince Harry and their two children in August.

The 45-year-old Duchess of Sussex arrived in quietly polished separates to meet an unmistakably famous fellow American expat. Yet while the unexpected company was always going to attract attention, viewers quickly became preoccupied with what Meghan was not carrying herself.

Some netizens had strong opinions about her famous friend, the outing, and one gesture. | Source: Instagram/pagesix

Her Country-Pub Look Was Polished Without Trying Too Hard

Meghan wore crisp white pants with a pale blue top, rolling its sleeves neatly to her elbows for a relaxed finish. Her white sneakers kept everything practical, while oversized sunglasses provided just enough duchess-off-duty glamour.

She left her hair loose around her shoulders as she made her way through the Cotswolds setting. The outfit looked fresh, expensive and completely appropriate for an unhurried Monday lunch without screaming that it had been assembled for one.

Still, Meghan was never likely to slip into an English pub unnoticed, especially once the identity of her companion became clear.

The former "Suits" star was there with Ellen DeGeneres, while Ellen's wife, Portia de Rossi, also joined them. Suddenly, an ordinary pub visit had become a rather exclusive gathering of celebrity American expats building new lives in the English countryside.

The trio appeared absorbed in conversation at the Three Horseshoes, a pub near the picturesque market town of Burford. It was also a particularly fitting meeting because Meghan and Ellen now share more than a famous friendship: both women have traded California for the Cotswolds.

Their lunch was not some accidental celebrity collision over the menu. Meghan, Harry, Ellen and Portia have been close for years, and the Sussexes attended Ellen and Portia's surprise vow renewal in February 2023.

An insider said Meghan and Harry "had a wonderful time celebrating Portia's birthday and the couple's vow renewal," adding that all four were "close friends." A video from the intimate celebration showed Meghan and Harry smiling among the guests as Kris Jenner officiated the ceremony.

Ellen and Portia had already been married for more than 14 years at the time. Meghan looked cozy in a gray coat, while Harry wore a black blazer and white shirt without a tie. The couple stood separately as they applauded and cheered, leaving the romantic attention exactly where it belonged.

Ellen Had Her Own Dramatic Reason for Staying in England

Ellen's life in Britain began with plans for nothing more permanent than a part-time escape. She and Portia originally expected to spend only three or four months each year in the United Kingdom after buying a home in the Cotswolds. That plan changed almost overnight.

During a July 2025 appearance in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Ellen confirmed that the last US election had persuaded the couple to remain in England. "We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emoji [...]," Ellen recalled. "And we're like, 'We're staying here.'"

The former talk-show host told the audience that life "is just better" in the United Kingdom. Ellen and Portia were also considering marrying again in England.

She also addressed the toxic-workplace allegations that preceded the end of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2022. Ellen admitted that she could be "very blunt," but dismissed the wider coverage surrounding the controversy as "clickbait," according to the BBC.

Netizens Didn't Seem to Appreciate This Famous Outing

That history made Meghan's choice of lunch companion irresistible ammunition for critics. On Facebook, one person scoffed, "lol Ellen isn’t an a list. That is hilarious!!" Another was considerably warmer, writing, "Great to see her settling in."

Others were not feeling nearly as charitable. "One problematic celebrity hanging out with another problematic celebrity. That tracks," a commenter declared. Another added, "Associating with Ellen is like associating with Prince Andrew. Interesting move 🤔."

The criticism continued on Reddit, where one person wrote, "Not exactly the greatest people to hang out with if you don't want to be seen as a bully." Another questioned Meghan's priorities, commenting, "But didn’t show up to her husband event ? Lmao [sic]."

A third suspected there was nothing accidental about the visibility of the outing: "Such a specific place, date and time! Lmao she called Backgrid and/or People within MINUTES of this pub visit"

Yet Ellen's presence was not the only element being dissected. A small detail in the footage soon managed to compete with both women.

Meghan's Handbag Found Itself a Very Unexpected Handler

In footage from the outing, Meghan appeared to let a security guard carry her handbag while she walked nearby with her own hands free.

That accessory arrangement promptly hijacked the conversation. The Instagram comments showed absolutely no mercy. One person wrote, "FFS, can't even carry her own bag. what a joke [sic]." Another reduced the security guard's apparent role to three wonderfully cutting words: "The purse holder!"

A third asked, "Did sge make her security guard carry her purse? 😆👌🏼 [sic]" Someone else piled on, writing, "And her security guard is carrying her bag...😂 Tell me you need taxpayers security without telling me you need taxpayers security."

For some critics, the timing also appeared suspicious because Harry had an engagement of his own. "The same day that H have an event??? She never let him have the spotlight.. she always do something to steal his limelight [sic]," one commenter complained. Another kept the focus firmly on the accessory, asking, "Who is her bag-carrier? 🙄"

Meghan had only walked into a pub, yet the footage somehow produced a debate over job descriptions, security arrangements and whether carrying one's own handbag should be considered a nonnegotiable duty.

Her British Return Is Already Being Watched From Every Angle

The pub visit was not technically Meghan's first outing since the family's return, although it was the first time cameras photographed her in public.

On September 9, Page Six reported that Meghan had enjoyed tea with someone who appeared to be another mother at Soho Farmhouse, the members-only retreat in the Cotswolds. No photographs emerged from that visit.

"She seems to be starting to socialize and going out and about," a source said, explaining that "lots of the moms go to [Soho Farmhouse] to relax and unwind at the end of the week."

The 100-acre country club includes an indoor-outdoor pool, a spa and 40 guest cabins. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, and Paul McCartney are among the celebrities known to frequent it, making the retreat a rather convenient place for famous residents hoping to unwind among people who understand famous-person problems.

And Meghan's gradual return to public life follows a much larger family decision. People revealed on August 19 that Meghan and Harry were relocating to Britain for an extended period with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The children began school there in September.

"Step by step, they want to be in the U.K.," a source close to Harry said. "They want to have the time and give the kids the opportunity to be here."

Their move will not restore Meghan and Harry to working-royal status. King Charles has maintained the arrangement reached after they stepped away from royal duties in 2020, leaving the couple to rebuild their lives in Britain without returning to official palace roles.

Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary Alisa Anderson predicted that the homecoming would hardly be effortless. "I don’t think they will be welcomed back with open arms," she said. "They will have to rebuild that trust and affection, with the family and the public."

Harry's lingering attachment to Britain helped drive the decision. Sources said he had struggled to establish a close social circle in California and continued to miss the friends and community he had known at home.

Meghan reportedly saw the move as an opportunity for Archie and Lilibet to experience both sides of their heritage. Her potential role in Netflix's "The Gentlemen," which films in the United Kingdom, also helped make the timing workable.

Meanwhile, Harry has professional reasons to spend more time in Britain as well, including his remaining patronages and preparations for the Invictus Games in Birmingham in July 2027.

For the Duchess of Sussex, this new English chapter has begun with private tea, a fashionable pub lunch and a distinctly celebrity-packed Cotswolds circle. However, the photographs also delivered a cheeky reminder that every element of her return will be examined.