Showing public displays of affection is not exactly top of the royal rulebook. In fact, PDA is generally avoided by senior members of the royal family.
Contextually, this makes sense when royals are out conducting official duties, where holding hands or sharing kisses can be seen as less appropriate for a formal engagement. However, there are times when royal couples simply cannot resist showing their affection, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have been married for 15 years.
Below, we take a look at the photographic proof, starting with...
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© Samir Hussein/WireImagePrince William and Kate's movie moment
At the Digger premiere in September 2026 in London, Prince William couldn't seem to keep his hands off his wife, placing a gentle, affectionate hand on her back as she walked.
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2/17
© Instagram/ @highgrovegardenKing Charles and Queen Camilla's 21st anniversary
To mark their 21st anniversary, the couple shared a touching moment in a video posted on Instagram. Captured during a visit to the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the clip showed Camilla sweetly leaning over and laying a hand on her husband's arm and back in a rare tender moment.
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© Getty ImagesPeter Phillips and Harriet Sperling's secret hand-holding
Sneaking in some PDA at Royal Ascot in June 2025, the couple were captured holding hands while beaming at each other. Taken before their engagement, the photo makes it no surprise that they went on to marry on 6 June 2026 at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire.
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© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetPrince Charles and Princess Diana's polo date
The then-Prince Charles kissed Princess Diana at a polo club in June 1987. Although the pair went on to divorce in August 1996, they were once in love and were not afraid to show it to the world.
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© AFP via Getty ImagesQueen Letizia and King Felipe's coronation kiss
In June 2014, Queen Letizia and King Felipe posed on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Madrid alongside their two daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia. During the celebrations, the royal couple shared a tender kiss to mark their affection for one another.
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© UK Press via Getty ImagesPrince William and Kate's cute day out
The couple carried out engagements in South Wales in February 2020 and there was a cute moment as Kate lovingly touched husband William's arm, as they strolled down the pier in the Mumbles.
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© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Harry and Meghan Markle's affectionate moment
Before stepping back from royal duties, the Sussexes had a more tactile approach to public engagements, whether they're holding hands or wrapping an arm around each other's waist. During a visit to Birmingham as an engaged couple, Harry and Meghan showed off their signature gesture as they spoke to well-wishers.
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© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince William and Kate's proud gesture
The couple were captured sharing a tender moment together backstage at the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards at Alexandra Palace in October 2021. Kate proudly put her arm around her husband, Prince William, as he beamed in return at his wife.
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© Getty ImagesMike and Zara Tindall's golf course romance
The late Queen's granddaughter has been married to her husband Mike for fifteen years. Love has always been in the air for these two, who welcomed their third child Lucas in March 2021. The couple are often pictured cheering each other on at sporty events, like when Zara supported Mike during the ISPS HANDA Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic, held at the Belfry Golf & Resort Hotel in Sutton Coldfield in 2019. The pair were snapped kissing and embracing on the golf course – aww!
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© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Queen and Prince Philip's rare loved up picture
The late Queen and her late husband Philip rarely engaged in public displays of affection. So it was endearing to see the couple, who were married for over 73 years, kiss each other on the cheek in 1999 on the eve of the Millennium.
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© Getty ImagesPrince William and Kate giggling during day out
In August 2020, Kate was spotted putting her arm affectionately around her husband as they enjoyed a giggle while playing in the amusement arcades on Barry Island.
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© Getty ImagesMike and Zara Tindall's pre-wedding bubble
And here's Mike supporting Zara at the Tweseldown Horse Trials back in 2011 where she lifts him up in the air. The couple was just four months away from celebrating their wedding, and it's evident they were very much in love.
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© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Harry and Meghan Markle's united front
Even in the car after their first royal engagement together, Harry and Meghan stayed close! Meghan placed one hand on top of Harry's as the pair returned to their home at Kensington Palace.
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© Getty ImagesPrincess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's special day
A kiss for the newlyweds! Crowds went wild when Eugenie and Jack shared a sweet moment on the steps of St George's Chapel in October 2018.
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© Getty ImagesPrince Edward and Duchess Sophie's farewell kiss
The Queen's youngest son sweetly bid his wife farewell with a kiss, as Sophie prepared to take on the gruelling challenge of cycling from the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace in London in September 2016.
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© Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesPrince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement shoot
Upon announcing their engagement in November 2017, Harry and Meghan gave fans a sneak peek of what they would look like at the altar, lovingly gazing at each other and holding hands at their official photocall.
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© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince William and Kate's subtle display of affection
They are less affectionate in public than the Sussexes, but every now and then they indulge in a bit of PDA. At Royal Ascot in 2017, Kate was snapped placing a hand on William's lower back.




