Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Post-Wedding PDA Is So Different From William and Kate's
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might've delayed their actual honeymoon getaway, but they're definitely in the honeymoon stages of their relationship. Case in point: The loved-up newlyweds were all over each other at their first official engagement as husband and wife.
While attending a garden party honoring Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace, the two linked arms while greeting other guests.
Markle was also seen putting her hand on her husband's back as they exited the event together.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no strangers to PDA. They held hands through their first joint interview, at many of their public engagements, and even as they sat together during their wedding. (Harry was seen rubbing his bride's hand with his thumb during the ceremony.)
The body language was much different at Prince William and Kate Middleton's first post-wedding appearance seven years ago, which was a private meeting with the former POTUS and FLOTUS, Barack and Michelle Obama, at Buckingham Palace. (Not bad for a newlywed debut.)
Clearly the nature of the two events were different. Willam and Kate were welcoming foreign leaders on a state visit while Harry and Meghan attended an early birthday party for Prince Charles (which also honored first responders from the Manchester bombing).
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were much more reserved at their formal engagement, keeping their hands to themselves while chatting with America's former president and first lady.
There's no written protocol stating that royal couples can't touch each other in public, but William and Kate are less likely to do so because they're "working representatives of British Monarchy" and want to "remain professional," etiquette expert Myka Meier told People in 2016.
Harry and Meghan, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are also working royals now, but as sixth in line for the throne, it's highly unlikely Harry will become King. William, however, is second in line for the throne after his father Prince Charles. He and Kate will be King and Queen Consort one day, so it makes sense why they'd follow protocol more closely, while Harry and Meghan can bend the rules.
However, we've still seen rare PDA moments between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in recent months. They held hands while taking their newborn son, Prince Louis, home from the hospital, and William put his hand on Kate's back during their St. Patrick's Day and Commonwealth Day appearances.
The decision to show PDA ultimately depends on the event. "It is rare to see royal couples holding hands on official outings," Meier later told People in 2017.
"While we are much less likely to see The Duke and Duchess holding hands in public, we often see Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall holding hands - it's all simply a matter of preference for each couple and is also likely dependent on the nature of the event they are attending," Meier added. "A more serious engagement would warrant a more serious level of professionalism, which each royal is sure to follow."
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