This Is Why Meghan and Harry Showed PDA While William and Kate Didn't at Christmas Service

At this year's Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, as the Fab Four walked along, Meghan and Prince Harry showed more PDA than the more traditional Kate and Prince William, who walked side by side without touching.

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At this year's Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton chatted like the best of buddies on the walk to the church (feud? What feud?). As the Fab Four walked along, stopping to chat with the thousands of fans that lined the walkway, Meghan and Prince Harry, strolling arm in arm, showed more PDA than the more traditional Kate and Prince William, who walked side by side without touching. Even while Meghan and Kate leaned in to each other, Meghan kept a hand at Harry's elbow.

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The pregnant Meghan might have needed Harry's arm to stabilize her, since she was wearing the most magnificent (and tall!) navy boots. The couple said hello to fans after the service, and Meghan draped her hand over Harry's back.

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Kate and William stopped to shake hands as well, but still no physical contact.

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It's well-established that Kate and William don't hold hands during public engagements, which may be from personal preference as much as official protocol. We occasionally see them break their rule as they did at Meghan and Harry's wedding, where they looked totally loved up. But otherwise it's hands off.

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Katherine J. Igoe
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.