Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised guests when they stepped out together at the One805LIVE! Festival in Santa Barbara on Saturday, September 20. The star-studded charity event drew a crowd of celebrities — but it was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s public display of affection that sparked a wave of online commentary.
In a moment captured on video and widely shared across social media, Harry is on the stage presenting the Heart of Community Award when Meghan walked up to her husband and attempted to get his attention.
“Oh hi, hi, hi, hi,” a seemingly surprised Harry can be seen saying to his wife before turning back to address the audience. At that point, Meghan walked back to the side of the stage.
The moment quickly drew reactions from both critics and supporters.
Some royal watchers were less than impressed, calling Meghan “clingy.”
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One X user wrote, “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are so codependent on each other it’s vomit-inducing. Will the sun crash into the Earth if they’re not touching every millisecond?”
Another commented, “I don’t know how Harry stands it! She literally hangs off him all the time.”
A third added, “Oh so they did introduce both!! BUT why? She could have just let him have his moment!!!”
Others defended the duchess, pointing out that their affection was nothing unusual. “There is nothing wrong with Meghan. Their intimacy and love for each other are clear to see. Nothing needy and clingy about that,” one supporter argued.
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The appearance came just weeks after Harry’s 50-minute meeting with King Charles III, their first face-to-face in 19 months, which sparked hopes of reconciliation within the royal family. But as Star reported, Harry may be facing growing tension at home, as he and Meghan no longer seeing “eye to eye” on their futures.
“Harry’s been talking about spending more time in the U.K., possibly having a second home base there,” a source told the outlet, adding that he has even considered “returning for good.”
According to the source, Meghan has been “shocked” that her husband “would even consider moving back to Britain after everything they’ve been through and how much work they’ve done to rebuild their lives in America.” The couple, who left royal duties in 2020, now live in Montecito, California, with their son Archie, 6, and daughter Lilibet, 4.