Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Okay, so, they weren't in a tree, they were at the Sentebale Polo Match, but still! There was some major PDA going on between the newlyweds. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an appearance at the polo match in Berkshire on Thursday (July 26) looking as in love as ever. Harry hopped on a horse and played in the match, scoring two goals to help his team come in first place. Meghan also showed off her athletic prowess by wearing stilettos on grass. Both are very impressive feats.
Though Meghan didn't participate in the match, she was still very much a part of the day's events. She awarded the winning team, which included her hubby, with their trophy at the end of the competition. After handing off the trophy to team captain Nacho Figueras, a lifelong friend of Harry, Meghan shared a sweet kiss with her husband.
Public displays of affection are extremely rare amongst the royal family. This is only the second time Meghan and Harry have exchanged a kiss in public. The only other time they've locked lips in publics was at their wedding back in May, standing outside the steps of St. George's Chapel. While this kiss was surprising for many royal watchers, Harry and Meghan are definitely the most openly affectionate members of The Firm. Kate Middleton and Prince William rarely even hold hands in public, let alone kiss each other. Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, often hold hands and link arms while out and about together.
The reason for this difference is actually quite simple. William and Kate have to appear more prim and proper because William will inherit the throne one day. Vogue reports that William looks to the Queen for guidance on how he and Kate should act in public. Queen Elizabeth, like Will and Kate, rarely shows affection to her own husband of 70 years, Prince Philip, in public. It's not an actual rule that the royals can't display affection in public, however, it is a "royal protocol."
Another factor to keep in mind is that today's polo match wasn't an official royal outing, which makes it a little more lax for Harry and Meghan. While attending events with the Queen on official state business, though, Harry and Meghan most likely wouldn't even hold hands. The more you know!