Prince Harry was “torn” between his royal duties and his “relentless” new wife for a moment when the couple embarked on their first overseas royal tour to Fiji in 2018, a body language expert said at the time. Judi James said Harry appeared conflicted between carrying out his royal duty and looking out for Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, after the couple touched down at Nausori Airport.

Footage of their arrival shows Meghan, 44, appear to reach for Harry’s hand, but the Duke of Sussex keeps walking ahead. The Duchess of Sussex makes a second bid to reach hold of her husband, but he continues, either unaware of his wife’s reaching out or keeping up with royal protocol. Public displays of affection aren’t frowned upon during official royal duties, but neither are they encouraged.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were on their first official royal tour (Image: Getty)

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, visited Fiji a few months after they married (Image: Getty)

Ms James analysed the moment, telling the Daily Mail: “Harry sticks to the protocol of status by walking first here but also twists his right arm awkwardly to hold her hand behind his back.”

She said Meghan appeared to want to re-write royal protocol, making for an “awkward moment” for Harry, 41. The body language expert said the Duke suffered “divided loyalties” and “conflicting priorities”.

While their “awkward moment” in Fiji may have raised eyebrows for some, Harry and Meghan have long shown their affection for one another in public.

In 2017, the pair were pictured at the Invictus Games in Toronto holding hands and in the same year they had their arms around each other as they announced their engagement in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

They shared a kiss outside St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle after they were wed in May 2018 in a ceremony beamed around the world on TV.

Meghan and Harry have also been photographed sharing kisses at polo matches and Invictus Games events. In Sydney, Harry was pictured with a hand on Meghan’s knee while Meghan looped both hands around her husband’s arm.

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The Sussexes hold hands as they stroll through Redwoods Tree Walk (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a moment together on Bondi Beach (Image: Getty)

During the same royal visit in 2018, the pair held hands on a visit to Redwoods Tree Walk in Rotorua, New Zealand, and as they sat on Bondi Beach, Australia.

After stepping back from their duties as senior royals and moving to North America in 2020, the Sussexes’ returned two years later for a service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral

They were pictured holding hands outside the venue and as they walked down the aisle ahead of the service.

The Sussexes have also not been shy about sharing intimate family photos of themselves to advertise their Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, or on Instagram.

To mark Valentine’s Day this year, Meghan shared a photo of her and Harry sharing a kiss, captioning the pic: “My love, I will eat burgers & fries and fish & chips with you forever. Thank you for you”.