Have Prince Harry and Meghan broken royal protocol?
Prince Harry and girlfriend Meghan Markle made their first public debut together during the Invictus Games in Canada in September last month – and they looked absolutely smitten with each other.
They did not hold back on their public displays of affection, which is unusual for a royal. Just take a look at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Queen and Prince Philip, or even Prince Charles and Camilla, all of whom are rarely pictured in any type of public show of affection.
So, are Harry and Meghan breaking royal protocol? Well, no.
According to royal etiquette expert Myka Meier, members of the royal family aren’t explicitly banned from showing affection in public. However, they don’t as a matter of professionalism.
“There is no actual etiquette or royal protocol that says the couple must refrain from PDA,” she told People last year.
Considering the royals are mostly on official duty when in public, it makes sense that we rarely see their personal side.
“The couple are likely to show very little PDA, if any, to remain professional during their designated roles,” Meier said of Prince William and Kate.
Throw in the fact that William will be King of England one day so there’s more scrutiny on William and Kate to maintain their professionalism whenever on duty, whereas Harry will drop down sixth-in-line when Kate welcomes her third baby next year.
Perhaps though, the couple are simply in love and want to show it!