Why Prince Harry is so affectionate with Meghan

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are rewriting the handbook when it comes to public displays of affection by members of the royal family.

But while it might be easy to credit the couple's tactile approach as being down to Meghan's influence, the affection shown by Harry has a lot do with how the Prince was raised, news.com.au reports.

Harry and Meghan hold hands as they walk along Kingfisher Bay Jetty during a visit to Fraser Island yesterday. Photo / AP

During their visit to Melbourne last week, video of Harry holding hands with Meghan went viral on social media.

The video, posted by Melbourne radio station FoxFM, shows Harry using his other free hand to hold Meghan's hand behind his back.

View this post on Instagram

By popular demand, here is the FULL double-hand-hold video with Harry & Meghan! We love these two ❤️👑😍 #RoyalVisitAustralia

A post shared by Melbourne's 101.9 The Fox (@thefox1019) on Oct 18, 2018 at 10:30pm PDT

Instagram account @amandalynnbutler pointed out Harry's double hand holding trick was one his mum Diana Spencer used to do with him as a child.

According to friend of the late Princess of Wales, Richard Kay, Diana showed more affection towards Harry as a child as "compensation" for how Prince William was favoured by other relatives.

View this post on Instagram

A lovely follower @amandalynnbutler 💝created this collage and kindly shared it with me! She said “I wanted to give you this. I think it’s so important for us to remember that Princess Diana taught her boys the language of love. She did this with Harry and he does it with Meghan ❤️” - So beautiful I had to post!! . . . If you repost credit: @amandalynnbutler . . . . . . #duchessofsussex #princesscharlotte #duchessofcambridge #meghanmarkle #princeharry #katemiddleton #princecharles #princewilliam #princelouis #diana #rachelzane #royals #royalfamily #royalcouple #royalwedding #lfl #britishroyalfamily #buckinghampalace #kensingtonpalace #australia #royaltour #meganmarkle #princegeorge #engagementring #cooktogether #princesseugeine #royalwedding #diana

A post shared by Meghan (fan page) (@_duchess_of_sussex) on Oct 22, 2018 at 1:37pm PDT

"She adored them both but William, destined to be king, was marked from birth for special attention," Kay wrote in the Daily Mail.

'"I have to,' she would often tell me. 'Charles and I worked so hard to ensure both boys receive equal amounts of our time and love; others in the family seem to concentrate on William."'

According to Kay, Harry would complain that William was "made a fuss over" when visiting their great-grandmother, the late Queen Mother.

Princess Diana paid Harry special attention to try to even the balance between her two boys.

When Diana confronted her over it, the Queen Mother is reported to have argued back that

"William was heir to the throne and should be groomed as such."

Harry's affectionate behaviour towards Meghan is in contrast to his older brother William, who rarely engages in PDA with his wife Kate Middleton.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive in Dubbo, Australia. Photo / AP

As heir to the throne, it's likely William feels more pressure to follow the example set by Queen Elizabeth, who never holds hands in public with Prince Philip.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have slowly begun to show more affection in public and caused a near internet meltdown with their hand holding at Princess Eugenie's wedding.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, were spotted holding hands during Princess Eugenie's wedding in a rare public display of affection. Photo / 7News

Body language expert Judi James predicts the couple's more tactile approach in public has probably been prompted by Meghan and Harry's displays.

"It could be a signal of delighted parenthood," she told The Express. "But it might also have been prompted by the very tactile displays from Harry and Meghan."

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, look thrilled to be together. Photo / AP