Prince Harry went out on a date to the theater with his new girlfriend Meghan Markle on Wednesday evening, walking through some of the most crowded shopping streets in central London.
Although Harry has already acknowledged the relationship in an open letter appealing for privacy, the casual stroll through Piccadilly was the clearest sign yet that the couple are ready for their relationship to be public.
Both Harry and Meghan were dressed down in beanie hats as they walked down Shaftesbury Avenue—one of the busiest streets in the world—and made their way to the Apollo Theatre followed by just one royal protection officer.
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While no professional photographers appeared to have been tipped off or alerted in time to get a pic, the couple were snapped in a series of bleary cellphone pictures published in The Sun this morning, marking the first time the couple have been photographed together.
World exclusive: first pic of #princeharry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle only in the @TheSun pic.twitter.com/0v1S3aKu64
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) December 14, 2016
Harry had booked last-minute tickets for the comedy version of JM Barrie’s tale of Peter Pan’s battle with Captain Hook.
Suits star Meghan, 35, flew to the U.K. from her Toronto home early Monday and has been staying with Harry, 32, at his two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
This was in fact the pair’s second public excursion—on Monday, they ventured out to buy a Christmas tree.
Meghan is a theater-lover—two months ago, when Meghan last visited London, Harry took her on a secret date to see The Lion King.
Meghan is believed to have visited the U.K. four times in the past three months, and last weekend Harry raised eyebrows when, contrary to royal protocol that prohibits mixing business trips with pleasure, he diverted 1,700 miles on his way back from his royal tour of the Caribbean to see her.