Prince Harry has stepped out with Meghan Markle for their first public appearance together in the U.S. since his long-awaited reunion with his father, King Charles III.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an unannounced visit to the One805LIVE! charity concert in Carpinteria, California, on Saturday, September 20. The event, hosted on the oceanside estate of Hollywood legend Kevin Costner, raises funds for Santa Barbara County’s first responders. This marked Harry’s third consecutive year attending the annual fundraiser.
According to reports, Meghan joined Harry backstage before the couple briefly appeared onstage to present an award to Fire Chief Mark Hartwig. The night featured live performances from country star Trisha Yearwood, rock band Good Charlotte, and R&B singer Thelma Houston. Organizers described the gathering as “an unforgettable evening of music, community, and support for our First Responders.” On its website, One805LIVE! called the concert its “flagship annual benefit,” designed to bring together legendary artists and supporters to raise money for equipment and mental health programs for local emergency workers.
Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for ABA
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have lived in Santa Barbara since 2020, after briefly staying at friend Tyler Perry’s Beverly Hills mansion upon moving from Canada to the U.S. Earlier in their marriage, they resided at Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle before stepping down from royal duties in January 2020.
The past few weeks have been particularly eventful for Harry. He returned to the U.S. after traveling to the U.K. for the WellChild Awards and a diplomatic visit to Ukraine. During his time in London, he reunited with King Charles III on September 10 for the first time in 19 months.
A source told that father and son reconciled after Harry sent Charles a handwritten letter earlier this year, expressing his desire to reconnect. Their private meeting at Clarence House lasted around 54 minutes before Harry departed for an Invictus Games-related event. According to an insider, the two “caught up personally about the children and about Charles’s health,” with “hugs and tears” marking the reunion.
The meeting carried additional weight given King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, announced in February 2024. Speaking afterward to The Guardian, Harry said, “The focus really has to be on my dad” in the coming year. When asked if the reunion made it more likely for his family to return to the U.K., he replied: “This week has definitely brought that closer.” Harry and Meghan share two children: Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.
While Harry’s relationship with his father has improved, tensions remain with his brother, Prince William. A source told on September 15 that William and Kate are still deeply hurt by Harry’s public disclosures, memoir revelations, and interviews, which they view as breaches of trust requiring significant time to heal.
Meanwhile, Meghan quietly celebrated her husband’s return home after his European trip. On September 14, the Instagram account of her brand As Ever featured a photo of two glasses of wine with the caption: “When your beau is back in town…”
