Rugby Crowd in Leicester Boos Prince Harry the Moment He Appears on the Big Screen, While Meghan Dines with Malala the Same Night

Prince Harry went to the rugby to unwind and got a reminder that not everyone at home is waiting with open arms. On Friday night in Leicester, at the match between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester, the 42-year-old younger son of King Charles III sat in the stands with friends and with Tigers chief executive Andrea Pinchen. The moment his face appeared on the stadium's big screen, part of the crowd started booing.

TNT commentator Nick Mullins described the scene live: "One face in the crowd, Prince Harry, back home and enjoying his rugby again." Right after that he added: "There are a few boos as well." Diplomatic - about as diplomatic as a sports commentator gets.

Harry had a better time with the match than with the welcome. Leicester came back from a 14-point deficit to win 38-31, handing Gloucester their first defeat of the season. Harry raised his fists and high-fived his friend. He has loved rugby since childhood, and at least that night it didn't let him down.

The context explains the reception. Harry, Meghan Markle and their children, Archie (7) and Lilibet (5), have been living in Britain since late August, after six years in California. Speculation about a reconciliation with his brother, Prince William, hasn't stopped since, but a thaw looks a long way off for now. There's been no known meeting with his father, King Charles III.

His previous solo appearance was on 17 September, at the first Invictus Spirit awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, a World Heritage site. He arrived alone, despite speculation that Meghan would come too - in a tuxedo, with medals on his lapel and the badge of a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order around his neck.

Meghan, meanwhile, on the same evening Harry was at the rugby, had dinner with Malala Yousafzai at Claridge's in London. A fellow guest filmed the two sitting at a corner table. It was her first public appearance since the family emerged from their years of retreat in California. Two evenings, two different worlds: him among the fans, her at a table with a Nobel laureate.

The palace can stay silent, the tabloids can speculate, but the stands are the fastest poll there is. The Balkans know that story well: whoever comes home after years away isn't always greeted with bread and salt. How many boos will it take for Harry to realise that coming back isn't just a change of address?