It’s safe to say Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had a point to prove at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games last week – locking lips and kissing off their doubters in the process.

No sooner had the pair arrived in Vancouver, Canada, for the games than they got busy declaring their love to the world, with gushing speeches and amorous displays. 

But while some fans were delighted, others weren’t so charmed – especially in light of all the scrutiny surrounding the Sussexes’ marriage. 

In fact, many said their PDAs actually proved their doubters right, showing everything they do is staged. And according to insiders, it’s Meghan who’s driving the narrative.

‘Meghan spent more time promoting Invictus this year than she’s done in previous years,’ says an insider close to the Duchess of Sussex, who shares children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, with Harry.

planting one on him in public ©Getty Images: Samir Hussein/WireImage

‘It’s partly because she wants to give the message that they are totally fine and in step. There’s been a very noticeable uptick in the PDAs and a lot of people are convinced it’s all for the cameras. 

Meghan really wants the world to know how happy they are, and that she and Harry aren’t going anywhere.

‘She knows people want to see them together, so she’s giving them what they want. But more than that, she’s standing by Harry for this very important moment. 

She’s committed to the proud wife role and is going all in, but the way she’s turned what should be private moments into promo material doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.’

The couple’s amorous display began at an opening event, where Meghan gave Harry a kiss on stage, before introducing him to the audience, announcing, ‘We are just thrilled to be here, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to introduce someone who means a lot to me. And I know he means quite a lot to all of you.’ 

But it was at the opening ceremony where she upped the ante, repeatedly snuggling into Harry and passionately kissing him.

the have been putting on a united front ©Shutterstock

By all accounts, they were tender moments – but they came at a time of intense scrutiny on the pair’s union. 

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump had made his feelings on Meghan known when he expressed his sympathies for Harry, saying in an interview, ‘He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.’ 

News travels fast and, whether Meghan’s PDA was deliberate or not, it’s unlikely that the words of the US president were far from her mind. 

But, sadly for Meghan, her affectionate displays didn’t necessarily have the effect that they’d intended. Weighing in, body language expert Judi James said Meghan was like a ‘ human limpet’ as she clung to Harry.

‘She’s never shy about doing PDAs with Harry, obviously, but I think this took it to a different level,’ said Judi. ‘She’s giggling, she’s squealing with excitement at things, she’s very breathless. 

She looked like a cross between a woman on a date night and a mum going to her son’s school open day. It’s a proud mum or besotted wife on a date.’ 

Her sentiments were echoed by Eamonn Holmes, who didn’t mince his words on GB News, calling Meghan’s performance ‘totally fake’ and ‘so put on.’

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The couple – who once were inseparable – have been trialling a professional separation in reaction to the backlash they’ve received as a joint brand. 

As a result, they’ve faced rumours of a split, which Prince Harry himself joked about last year, reflecting, ‘We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times… It’s hard to keep up, but that’s why you just sort of ignore it.’ But his casual dismissal of the rumours belies a great deal of damage control behind the scenes. 

That was needed more than ever last month, after Vanity Fair published its damning expose of the Sussexes, in which it claimed that the option of a post-divorce book had been floated by Meghan’s team, should she and Harry ever split, though those rumours were quickly refuted.

Either way, the heat is on the pair – and with the opportunity to have the world’s eyes watching them last week, it’s clear Meghan wasn’t going to miss her moment.

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