For years, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were vilified by the British press for their affectionate displays in public. Headlines accused them of breaking protocol, being “unroyal,” and seeking attention—especially Meghan, who was often painted as a manipulative outsider changing the monarchy for the worse. Yet, in a remarkable turn of events, Prince William and Kate Middleton have now fully embraced PDA while on royal duty, and instead of criticism, they are being praised for showing a “modern and loving” relationship. The hypocrisy is glaring, and the reason is clear: race.
The Double Standard in Royal PDA
When Harry and Meghan, an interracial couple, showed simple gestures of affection—holding hands, gazing into each other’s eyes, or Meghan reassuringly placing a hand on Harry’s back—the British media pounced. Tabloids labeled them “unprofessional,” and royal “experts” decried their behavior as attention-seeking. The Daily Mail once ran a story implying Meghan was using PDA to control Harry, while The Sun framed it as a desperate attempt to stay relevant.
Yet, William and Kate now openly hold hands, exchange loving glances, and even embrace at events—something they never did before. And instead of condemnation, they are celebrated. Articles from the same outlets that once attacked Harry and Meghan now claim William and Kate’s PDA is “refreshing” and shows “a strong partnership.” Where was this energy when Meghan and Harry did the same?
The Real Reason for the Hate
The stark difference in treatment has little to do with “royal tradition” and everything to do with racism. Meghan, a biracial American woman, was never given the grace that Kate, a white British woman, enjoys. The UK press, fueled by royal insiders, constantly undermined Meghan and framed her as disrespecting the monarchy—while Kate is seen as modernizing it. The double standard isn’t just unfair; it exposes the deep-rooted racial biases within both the media and the institution itself.
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Copying Harry and Meghan’s Style
William and Kate’s sudden embrace of PDA feels less like a natural evolution and more like a PR move designed to rehabilitate their image. After years of being seen as distant and formal, especially compared to Harry and Meghan, they are now conveniently adopting the same approach that Meghan and Harry were shamed for. It’s a blatant attempt to appear more relatable, especially in the wake of the family’s declining popularity.
If public displays of affection were truly an issue for the monarchy, William and Kate wouldn’t be doing it now. But since the royal establishment and the press have decided it’s acceptable when coming from the future king and queen—while condemning it when coming from a Black woman—the message is clear: Meghan was never the problem. Racism was.
