The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a rather awkward moment recently when they were caught on the ‘kiss-cam’ at a basketball game in Los Angeles. The couple, sitting in a private box (but in very public view), were faced with a decision: to kiss or not to kiss.
Harry went in for the kill (his 26th?), leaning over to his wife for a kiss. But Meghan simply laughed and patted his arm. There, there, little prince – not today. The couple haven’t been shy about public displays of affection in the past, and this was somewhat of a departure from her days on camera frolicking in her role as Rachel Zane in Suits. But people change and, I suppose, that was acting.
So what would you have done in a similar situation? It’s true, the public display of affection – or PDA – has a bad reputation. The mention of it may even send a prickle up your spine. It’s considered naff and cringey; a faux pas to be made in one’s youth, not to be repeated in later years. PDAs are something to be mocked, no? Remember so-and-so at the Christmas party? Ha.
But since the pandemic there has been, I believe, a shift. We spent months without human contact, without touch or connection. And we have been making up for it ever since. Next time you are out and about in a city – preferably on a warm, sunny day – look around. PDAs of all kinds are everywhere. It’s astonishing. There’s hand-holding, linked arms, kissing and my personal favourite, the hand-in-partner’s-back-pocket. Cute.
During the pandemic we spent months without human contact, without touch or connection, and we have been making up for it ever since
It’s not just a frivolous topic, either. The PDA was brought into the political realm last year at the Qatar World Cup when LGBTQ+ fans were warned against showing their lovers any affection at the tournament. Foreign secretary James Cleverly urged British fans to respect Qatari culture, with the Foreign Office actually advising against public displays of affection – although after some backlash Fifa assured fans that they could, in fact, behave as they wished at official World Cup venues.
I used to be firmly in the anti-PDA camp, but I admit that since finding love, I’ve changed my mind. Why not hug, kiss and be affectionate to your partner? Because of what other people might think? Bah, you must be joking – who cares about them?
As long as you are acting with decorum (in other words, nothing you’d be embarrassed for your grandma to see), by all means give your other half a kiss in public. Don’t hold back. Don’t think about beady-eyed onlookers. Chances are they want what you have.
As I write this, I’m alone in Nice. I find myself people-watching and envying those small acts of intimacy without my partner with me. So go forth and show your affection – God knows that a bit more love is what the world needs.
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