Why Harry and Meghan Can Hold Hands
If you take a trip down (recent) memory lane and look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's sweetest moments, you'll notice a few common themes: Meghan is always impeccably dressed, Prince Harry is clearly head-over-heels in love, and the happy couple can't keep their hands off of each other.
From the beginning of their relationship, it's been clear that Harry and Meghan are fans of public displays of affection. They were holding hands during their very first appearance together at the Invictus Games back in September, setting a sweet precedent for the PDA that was to come.
And since then, the affectionate body language has only continued, from various royal appearances to their first black-tie event in February. But it appears their hand-holding tendencies aren't exactly on par with the PDA of our other favorite royal couples.
Take Prince William and Duchess Kate, for example. From an initial look at their royal appearances through the years, Will and Kate are rarely spotted holding hands or showing PDA. But just two weeks ago, the couple held hands as they left St. Mary's Hospital with little Prince Louis:
Even with this show of PDA from Will and Kate, the question remains: why do Meghan and Harry hold hands frequently, while Will and Kate rarely do? Enter: our in-depth investigation into royal hand-holding protocol.
Myka Meier, the founder of Beaumont Etiquette and a royal etiquette expert, revealed to People that "there is no actual etiquette or royal protocol that says the couple must refrain from PDA." With that in mind, Meier told People in another interview that "it is rare to see royal couples holding hands on official outings." There are a range of factors that may affect the couple's decision to show affection in public or not.
Instead of an official rule or etiquette standard, royals will likely follow the Queen's lead on PDA. As body language expert Robin Kermode told the Daily Mail, the Queen rarely holds hands with Prince Philip in public, and other royals typically maintain that precedent.
The decision to show PDA or not may also have to do with personal preference. "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," Meier explained to People. "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."
Another reason royals tend to avoid PDA during official appearances? Simply because they're working. Meier added that while on a royal tour, the couple are technically "working representatives of British Monarchy. The couple are likely to show very little PDA, if any, to remain professional during their designated roles abroad."
The public persona of each royal can also affect their PDA habits. Put simply, William is second in line to the throne, while Harry is sixth. William will very likely be King of England one day, so his actions are highly scrutinized by the public and media. It's unlikely that Harry, who is now placed after newborn Prince Louis in the line of succession, will ever become King. As Grant Harrold, Will and Harry's former butler, revealed to Time Magazine, "there is not the same pressure for Harry" given his position in line to the throne. "Prince William could one day be king," Harrold told Time. "There are very strict rules around that. William and Kate have a modern feel, but still do things by the book."
The other factor in their varying attitudes toward PDA is that Will and Kate have been together for longer, while Harry and Meghan are still very much in the honeymoon phase and experiencing "firsts" as a couple as they relish in this period of engagement bliss.
Overall, Harry and Meghan's PDA-heavy appearances are a welcome change for the public and royal fans. Because there really is nothing cuter than seeing two people in love.
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