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Why can’t Prince William and Kate Middleton show affection in public? Here is what we know.

Even while mourning the pair value their duties.
Prince William, Duchess Kate and Prince George sing at the Queens funeral
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The Prince and Princess of Wales are known for refraining their public displays of affection, other than subtly touching each other’s arm. This body language was only highlighted as Prince William and Kate Middleton reunited with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who do not act so refrained.

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Following the news about Queen Elizabeth’s passing, the Fab Four greeted a mourning crowd of royal fans outside the gates of Windsor Castle.

The two couples are very different.

(Image: Getty)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex instantly held walk hand-in-hand, and even a body language expert examined how the Prince went into “bodyguard mode” to protect his wife.

But given the couple departed the British royal family in early 2020, they are under no obligation to show the same reservation as Kate and William.

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Therefore they can express emotion and affection more frequently, which was an intense contradiction to Kate and William in the event following the Queen’s death.

Loving looks aren’t off limits!

(Image: Getty)

“Harry has ‘I am peeved’ written all over his face. He’s angry and protecting Meghan with his hand on her back. They’re showing ‘we are different. You don’t want us to be royal, we will not walk the straight line. So we will hold hands’,” body language expert Dr Louise Mahler said to Now to Love.

“It’s not normal royal protocol to hold hands in that environment – everyone else was spaced very clearly – but they’re together. That’s a statement.”

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The two couples differing approaches to affection created speculation that Prince Harry and Meghan were together for love, but Prince William and Kate were together for duty.

However, it is known that as senior working members of the British royal family, Kate and William are discouraged from displaying public affection. The royal pressures are even more enforced as since Charles III was named King, it puts Kate and William next in line for the King and Queen Consort title.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend Wimbledon 2022
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A royal etiquette expert, Myker Meier told People suggested that the royals are considered to be working while on tour.

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“The likely reasoning is more that while traveling on a tour [or other royal engagements], technically the couple are working representatives of British Monarchy. The couple are likely to show very little PDA, if any, to remain professional during their designated roles,” he said.

It has also been noted that King Charles III and the Queen Consort Camilla did not hold hands while walking into Buckingham Palace.

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