Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive in Texas ahead of new appearance

The couple were seen by onlookers on Thursday night at Soho House Austin, an exclusive members-only club.

This was ahead of Meghan's appearance on a star-studded panel at the SXSW festival in Texas alongside actress Brooke Shields and author Katie Couric.

Meghan, 42, and Harry, 39, took a trip from their home in Montecito to the Austin restaurant where they were seen being "happy and in great spirits," a source told People.

They added: "Harry was very animated throughout the dinner.

"They were super low-key and seemed happy to be around the upbeat vibes at the lively venue."

In July 2016, the couple had their first date at the Soho House in London.

The Sussexes returned the next day where they took a black and white photo of themselves laughing.

The photograph was later featured in their six-part Netflix series, Harry & Meghan.

Prince Harry recounted this story in his memoir Spare, discussing the first time he met Meghan.

He wrote: "Red-cheeked, puffing, sweaty, half-an-hour late, I ran into the restaurant, into the quiet room, and found her sitting at a small area on a low velvet sofa in front of a low coffee table."

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The prince said she was "heart-attack beautiful" when he met his future wife.

The duke added: "I'd seen so many photos of her from fashion shoots and TV sets, all glam and glossy, but there she was, in the flesh, no frills, no filter... and even more beautiful."

After their first date, Meghan Facetimed Harry and they set up another date at the same restaurant the following night.

Tonight, Meghan will be one of the keynote panellists at the South by Southwest (SXSW) series of festivals and conferences.

Hugh Forrest, the Co-President and Chief Programming Officer, said: "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Nancy Wang Yuen, and Errin Haines are the perfect finishing touch to eight days of remarkable Keynote Speakers.

"We are so honoured to host this distinguished group on International Women’s Day for a significant discussion on the importance of representation in media and entertainment."

The panel was selected because they all champion human rights and gender equality.

SXSW is dedicated to helping creative people achieve their goals and was founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas.