These Are the Most Romantic Photos of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry From the First Months of Their Marriage
When you’re a member of the royal family, you have your picture taken. A lot. And photos of the British royals often reveal quite a bit about their personalities and their relationships. That’s especially true for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who got married on May 19, 2018, and since then, have appeared in numerous adorable photos together.
Below, check out the most romantic photos of the newlyweds (and try not to be jealous of their adorable relationship).
1. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend a party for Prince Charles
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the 70th birthday party of Prince Charles. | Ian Vogler-WPA Pool/Getty Images
A parent’s birthday party may not be the most romantic of occasions. But Meghan Markle and Prince Harry managed to turn heads anyway when they arrived for a celebration of Prince Charles’s 70th birthday. This photo captures the pair walking arm-in-arm to the party — their first official appearance as a married couple — at Buckingham Palace. Though Harry and Meghan frequently make public displays of affection, many British royals aren’t comfortable touching or holding hands in public like the newlyweds.
Next: They attended another high-profile birthday celebration.
2. The newlyweds celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attending the Queen’s Birthday Parade, ‘Trooping the Colour.’ | Daniel Leal-Olivas/ AFP/ Getty Images
Within weeks of their wedding, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended another birthday party, this one for Queen Elizabeth II. In one of their most romantic photos yet, you can see them riding in a horse-drawn carriage after the Queen’s Birthday Parade, “Trooping the Colour.” Getty explains that the tradition reportedly dates back to the reign of King Charles II. It marks the official birthday of the sovereign. More than 600 guardsmen and cavalry walk in the parade. And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the celebration along with the rest of the royal family.
Next: They dressed up for this important occasion.
3. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dress up for the Royal Ascot
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the first day of the Royal Ascot. | Daniel Leal-Olivas/ AFP/ Getty Images
Another high-profile appearance for the newlyweds — and another adorable arm-in-arm promenade — came on the one-month anniversary of their wedding, on June 19. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the first day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet. Getty characterizes the event as “one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar.” Races have been held at the famous Berkshire course since 1711. Men have to wear top hats and tails in parts of the course. Hence the fancy hats on both Meghan and Harry!
Next: They have a good time even at formal events.
4. Meghan and Harry share a laugh together
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Royal Ascot Day 1. | Chris Jackson/ Getty Images
Photographers captured several adorable snapshots of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the race course. This photo of the two sharing a laugh, or at least some big smiles, could warm the hearts of even those who are most ambivalent about the British royal family. Elle reports that the couple chose to attend only on the opening day of the Royal Ascot. (Unlike Queen Elizabeth II. The queen loves racing and is a skilled equestrian herself. And she has even been known to place a bet or two.)
Next: They seem proud of one another.
5. Meghan applauds Harry at a reception
Meghan Markle claps for Prince Harry after his speech during the Your Commonwealth Youth Challenge reception. | Yui Mok – WPA Pool/ Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made another appearance in early July at the Your Commonwealth Youth Challenge reception at Marlborough House. Marie Claire reports that the event kickstarts the Commonwealth Youth Leadership workshop series. The reception gave Harry and Meghan a chance to connect with young leaders and understand the initiatives they envision for the Commonwealth. As you can see in the photo above, Meghan looked proud of Harry after he gave his speech at the event.
Next: They do this more often than Prince William and Kate Middleton.
6. They show more affection than Prince William and Kate Middleton
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry arrive for a service to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force. | Chris J. Ratcliffe/ AFP/ Getty Images
Many fans of the royal family have made the observation that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry seem to make more public displays of affection than another young royal couple: Kate Middleton and Prince William. (Just look at the difference in this photo. A photographer got this shot before a service for the centenary of the Royal Air Force at Westminster Abbey.) People assume that Queen Elizabeth II has prohibited PDA. But Time reports that that’s not exactly the case. There’s no official rule against hand-holding or moments of touching. But the royals probably consider the time and place to decide whether it’s appropriate or not.
Next: They spend a lot of time doing this, too.
7. Meghan and Harry are always talking to one another
Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle leave a service to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force. | Chris J. Ratcliffe/ AFP/ Getty Images
Members of the royal family make many official appearances. And while Prince William and Kate Middleton often stay focused on the action, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are often photographed talking to each other. Just take a look at the photo above, snapped as the four young royals left Westminster Abbey after a service honoring the Royal Air Force. You’ll notice a major difference between the two couples’ body language.
Next: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry talk to one another often at royal engagements.
8. Seriously, they’re always in the middle of a conversation
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during the RAF 100 ceremony. | Chris Jackson/ Getty Images
Want more proof that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are actually always engaged in conversation together? Just check out the photo above, snapped during a ceremony for the centenary of the Royal Air Force at Buckingham Palace. Kate Middleton and other attendees are looking at the program or paying attention to what’s going on. But Meghan and Harry happily carry on a conversation. And, as usual, they can’t stop smiling at each other. What’s more romantic than that?
Next: This is the surprising reason that might explain some of the differences between Harry and William.
9. They behave differently from William and Kate
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF. | Chris Jackson/ Getty Images
This photo, taken as the royal family watched a military flypast in honor of the Royal Air Force’s centenary, gives another glimpse of the differences between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William. The way they conduct themselves at royal engagements probably reflects a surprising factor: the order of succession to the throne. Time notes that William is second in line to the throne. But Harry is sixth. As one expert tells the publication, “Prince William could one day be king. There are very strict rules around that. William and Kate have a modern feel, but still do things by the book.”
Next: They had a Buckingham Place balcony moment.
10. They show some affection on the balcony at Buckingham Palace
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry leave the balcony of Buckingham Palace after watching a military fly-past. | Tolga Akmen/ AFP/ Getty Images
The newlyweds joined the rest of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a military fly-past. But Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed their true colors as they went back inside. Meghan put her hand on Harry’s back. The gesture is a subtle show of affection, one that they’ve made since Meghan’s very first royal engagement. (That engagement took place in Nottingham with Harry the December before their wedding.)
Next: They often do this at royal engagements.
11. They act like normal people
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attend a Summer Party at the British Ambassador’s residence at Glencairn House in Dublin. | Brian Lawless/ AFP/ Getty Images
Normal people sometimes get caught in the middle of a sentence — or a joke — on camera. And Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t afraid to do the same. At the start of their official visit to Ireland, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a party at the British Ambassador’s residence at Glencairn House in Dublin. That’s when a photographer caught this great snapshot of Prince Harry looking goofy and Meghan Markle taking it in stride — just what fans would expect of the young royals.
Next: The couple also does this a lot.
12. Meghan and Harry also exchange some adorable looks
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to meet Ireland’s President in Dublin. | Clodagh Kilcoyne/ WPA Pool/ Getty Images
Another thing we love to see when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry make public appearances? The looks they give each other at intervals during events and engagements. The photo above shows the newlyweds arriving to meet Ireland’s president, Michael Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain. Most people would probably feel pretty nervous about that meeting. But Meghan seems to have felt calm enough to throw a loving look Harry’s way. And lucky for all of us romantics, a photographer caught the moment!
Next: Harry does it, too.
13. Harry makes great faces at Meghan
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. | Chris Jackson/ Pool/ Getty Images
When you look at photos, it’s hard to tell whether photographers catch Prince Harry in the middle of a sentence, or whether he’s really making faces at Meghan Markle. But we’d accept either explanation. After all, photos of the royal newlyweds holding hands and engaged in conversation are always adorable! A photographer captured the snapshot above during the couple’s official visit to Croke Park, home of Ireland’s largest sporting organization, the Gaelic Athletic Association.
Next: They seem to do this together.
14. Meghan and Harry seem to take on responsibilities together
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Trinity College. | Charles McQuillan/ Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle haven’t been married for that long (especially compared to other members of the royal family, like Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip). But if we had to guess, we’d say that they’re off to a great start. Even photos of the couple say something about the way they seem to take on responsibilities together. Despite the noise and stress involved when greeting a crowd at a royal engagement, they do things together.
Next: Photos also seem to reveal this about their relationship.
15. They seem to make a great team, even in quieter moments
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view the Famine Memorial on the bank of the River Liffey in Dublin. | Chris Jackson/ Getty Images
It’s hard to judge without really knowing a couple, but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to make a great team. Plenty of photos have captured the way they work together during their royal engagements. But one of our favorites documented the couple in a quiet moment: their visit to the Famine Memorial on the bank of the River Liffey during their visit to Ireland. Atlas Obscura reports that the sculptures have become one of the most photographed public art installations in all of Ireland, and we love the way that Harry and Meghan took their time to experience the memorial.
Read more: Strict Royal Family Rules the Queen’s Grandchildren Have Broken
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