Prince Harry and Meghan Markle proved their still the king and queen of PDA as they shared a kiss in front of a crowd at the polo yesterday, in an intimate moment that was a far cry from Charles and Diana’s tense public interactions.
The Duchess of Sussex40, planted a kiss on her husband as she presented his team with a trophy at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, near their mansion in Montecito, California,
Meghan, who was dressed in a wide brim hat, polka dot blouse and high-waisted trousers, placed her hands on either side of her husband’s face, while he pulled her close with a hand on her back.
The tender clinch, captured on camera for all the world to see, is part of a tradition of polo-playing princes being ‘rewarded’ for their efforts with a post-match kiss.
Prince Charles and Diana were captured locking lips on a number of occasions, although their PDA was far chillier than the Sussexes’ romantic moments.
A kiss for the crowd! The Duke and Duchess shared a kiss on stage after Los Padres won the memorial cup yesterday
Tense: The affectionate display was a world away from the tense and distant peck Charles and Diana shared following his polo victory in 1985, just four years after their wedding
Beaming: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a joke as they mingled following yesterday’s match. Harry took part in the Lisle Nixon Memorial trophy in Santa Barbara
Distant: Polo-playing princes typically receive a kiss from their beloved as a ‘reward’ and it’s a chance for the public to see some PDA. But Prince Charles and Princess Diana looked serious at a polo match at Windsor in 1983
Giggling Duchess! Meghan smiled coyly as Harry leaned in to whisper something in her ear in the public display of affection
On the rocks: The breakdown of their marriage was almost confirmed to the world when Diana swerved her head at the moment of kiss in India in 1992, leaving her husband’s painfully pursed lips making contact with the side of her hair, pictured
In 1985, just a few months after the birth of Prince Harry, the couple shared an awkward and distant kiss following Charles’ polo victory.
The breakdown of their marriage was revealed to the world when Diana swerved her head at the moment of kiss in India in 1992, leaving her husband’s painfully pursed lips making contact with the side of her hair.
The couple also looked tense on a number of other occasions, with Diana looking glum as Charles showed off his sporting prowess on the pitch.
It is a world apart from Harry and Meghan who couldn’t keep their hands off each other yesterday.
After giving each of Harry’s teammates a peck on the cheek, she planted a kiss on Harry’s lips while he put a hand on her back to pull her close.
As a gust of wind threatened to pull her hat from her head, Meghan placed a hand gently on Harry’s arm, before spotting her lipstick smudge and wiping his face.
Hand-in-hand: The couple put on a united front as they left the stage following the prize presentation yesterday afternoon
A quiet word: Prince Charles and Princess Diana looked serious at the polo at Smith’s Lawn Polo Club in 1985, proving royal PDA at the polo is not a given
Pucker up! Meghan placed her hands either side of her husband’s face as they shared a kiss on stage yesterday
Royal kiss: Prince Charles held Diana close as they shared a kiss at the polo in Cirencester in 1985
The couple then left the stage hand-in-hand: a clear show of unity in front of guests.
Harry and Meghan had sent out invitations to a number of high profile names inviting them to yesterday’s event in aid of local charities.
The Duke of Sussex’s polo team is also releasing their own range of clothing in collaboration with trendy LA brand James Perse to benefit organizations including Heal The Ocean.
The Duke of Sussex was in his element playing alongside Figueres, who has spoken out in support of Harry and Meghan and is part of the royal’s inner circle.
Sealed with a kiss! Prince Harry leaned in to give his wife a kiss on the lips following his victory at the Santa Barbara club
Intimate moment: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex put on a show for the crowd as they kissed on stage following his win
Touchy-feely: The Duchess of Sussex held her husband’s arm after presenting him and his team with the memorial trophy
Let me get that for you: Meghan had left behind a trace of her lipstick so reached in to wipe it from Harry’s mouth
All okay? Meghan placed a reassuring hand on her husband’s chest during a quiet moment on stage in front of onlookers
It comes as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to jet off to London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend next week.
They will be joined by their children Archie, three, who was born in the UK, and Lilibet, 11 months, who has never met the British side of her family.
Harry and Meghan have taken their children to other polo events this season but left them at home yesterday.
Meghan opted for a glamorous, retro look for yesterday’s outing, wearing her brunette locks in big, bouncy curls underneath her wide brim hat.
Loved-up: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no strangers to polo PDA – and shared this amorous kiss at the Berkshire Polo Club in July 2018, just months after their wedding
Dressing for the California sun, she opted for a breezy black and white polka dot blouse with a pussy bow which she wore loosely tied at her chest.
The duchess paired the printed piece with £670 wide-leg shorts from go-to brand Khaite, which she finished with a £410 black patent belt by the designer.
Despite needing to walk across grass, Meghan decided to wear her favorite £500 Aquazzura pumps.
She finished the monochrome ensemble with a slick of red lipstick, a pair of diamond earrings, delicate rings and a gold necklace.
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