On Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined members of the royal family at the Queen’s memorial service, during which the Archbishop of Canterbury led a short service. After the service, King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, led the procession, with Prince Harry and Meghan holding hands as they exited the chapel behind the duke’s brother, Prince William, and his wife Kate. The show of support and affection was not matched by most other members of the royal family, who stood side by side without touching as they left the ceremony. However, the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall followed the couple’s lead, with the pair also holding hands as they left the service, while the Prince of Wales was seen putting his hand on the back of the Princess of Wales after leaving Westminster Hall. . It’s not the first time Harry and Meghan have held hands while paying their respects to the Queen, as the couple also indulged in the public display of affection when they reunited with the Prince and Princess of Wales at Windsor Castle to greet well-wishers . earlier this week. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hold hands as they leave Westminster Hall service (Getty Images) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were also seen holding hands while greeting well-wishers earlier this week (Getty Images) While royal protocol doesn’t prohibit members of the royal family from engaging in PDA, according to Myka Meier, royal etiquette expert and founder and director of Beaumont Etiquette, who previously told People “there’s no real etiquette or royal protocol that says the couple must refrain from PDA,” the royal family rarely does. William puts his hand on Kate’s back as they leave the Westminster service (Getty Images) According to Meier, the decision comes down to a matter of preference, as well as the “nature of the event they’re attending.” However, body language expert Robin Kermode previously told the DailyMail that the Queen, who rarely held hands with Prince Philip in public, may have set a precedent. Prince Harry and Meghan’s latest show of affection came after the Duke joined members of his family, including Prince William, the King, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, in a procession behind the Queen’s coffin before operation. On social media, viewers have been divided over the couple’s decision to hold hands after the ceremony in honor of the Queen, with some praising the Duke and Duchess for the sweet gesture, while others claiming it was ‘disrespectful’ . “I am delighted to see Harry and Meghan holding hands as they leave Westminster Hall. It’s clearly been hard for him and William,” one person wrote, while another said: “I really think it’s really cute that Meghan and Harry were holding hands. It is a kind and understandable gesture. It’s been a long time and Harry has had a hard enough time losing his grandmother.’ Another claimed: “Harry and Meghan holding hands is the most human and normal part of this whole thing As for those who criticized the couple, many defended the Duke and Duchess on the basis that the Queen’s granddaughter and her husband were also holding hands. Zara Tindall and her husband Mike also held hands (Getty Images) “Before anyone opens their mouth about Harry and Meghan holding hands, Mike and Zara are holding hands too,” one person tweeted, while another said: “People are falling all over them to criticize Prince Harry and Meghan holding hands. they walked out of the ceremony but didn’t notice Zara and Mike doing the same. Since when was comfort forbidden to your husband?’
