Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nottingham to mark #WorldAidsDay

Today's visit to Nottingham marked their first official engagement together since announcing their engagement earlier this week.

Despite the cold weather, huge crowds turned out in Nottingham to greet Prince Harry and Megan Markle. His Royal Highness has visited Nottingham many times before and was delighted to be introducing the city to Ms. Markle.

The day started at the Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair, where Prince Harry and Ms. Markle met representatives from Terrence Higgins Trust Nottingham, The African Institute for Social Development and Champions for Change, which organises football matches to encourage people in the community to get tested. 

Each of these organisations support local communities in Nottingham and do specific work around HIV/AIDS.

The day before Prince Harry had met with Masedi, a Sentebale #LetYouthLead advocate who is fighting for the health of her generation. With 1000 young women being infected with HIV each day, it is vital that advocates spread the word about testing and prevention around their community. 

Prince Harry learnt how young people in southern Africa are integral to shaping future HIV/AIDS policy. Today Sentebale, which is a charity founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in 2006, and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, released a paper which discusses the challenges facing adolescents affected by HIV in the region. Read it here. 

Representatives from The Food Chain and BHIVA were also at the fair, these two organisations support people living with HIV and work towards eradicating the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.

His Royal Highness and Megan Markle then travelled to Nottingham Academy, where they were able to meet staff and mentors from the Full Effect programme.

The Full Effect programme has been supported by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry since 2013, and it helps children and young people in the St Anne's area of the city.

Through a combination of early intervention, mentorship and training the programme helps prevent youth violence and crime.

Prince Harry and Ms Markle heard first-hand how Full Effect is having a positive impact on the community and students and met some the students who have benefited. 

Before departing Ms. Markle was given a posy from students at the Nottingham Academy, marking the end of her first official visit alongside Prince Harry.