Royal hand holding rules

As a member of the Royal family, you can be expected to adhere to certain strict protocols.

Unmarried women in the family aren't allowed to wear a tiara, shellfish is off the menu when travelling and PDA is most certainly frowned upon.

Kate and William will likely never be spotted holding hands, or kissing at any public engagement, however for Prince Harry there appears to be a different set of rules.

At the Invictus Games in Toronto, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were snapped looking very cosy, despite the obvious eyes and lenses on them.

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The reason for the allowed intimacy is because Harry and Meghan were at the Games freely and they weren't partaking in Royal duties.

Because Meghan is not a member of the Royal family, she wasn't technically "at work" in any capacity.

Harry was on duty when he opened the Games, and so Meghan kept her distance and watched from the crowd.

However, when the pair attended the Games to watch, Harry was officially off duty and the pair were free to act how they pleased.

The event marked their first appearance as a couple, and Harry took full advantage by holding his girlfriend's hand and planting a kiss on Markle.

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Prince William, the future King, is supposed to follow the Queen's example, and she has rarely ever been seen holding hands with Prince Philip.

Because of this, it has become an "unwritten precedent for the other royals", Robin Kermode, body language expert, told the Daily Mail.

"It is very clear that William and Kate are emotionally close, however, they do not seem to feel the need to prove their love - particularly when on official state business," he added.

"They come across as a strong, independent couple and while they are always on show, they do not feel the need to 'show' their love for each other to the world."

But can you really blame Harry and Meghan for wanting to flaunt their new-found love?

This article was first published on NZ Herald and is republished here with permission.