Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently on their royal tour, checking out all the sights in Australia. I was hoping they'd go to the Outback, and watch kangaroo boxing with some VB-chugging, Winny Blue-smoking bogans, but apparently, that's not on the agenda. Instead, the royal couple went to Melbourne - pronounced Mel-BIN, you wanker - and attended a fancy reception. While greeting the crowd, a little boy gave Meghan a homemade pasta necklace, and she gamely put it on, warming everyone's hearts.
Afterward, the Duke and Duchess visited Sydney, home of the famous Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach. On the beach, they met up with OneWave, a surfing organization dedicated to raising awareness for mental health. When group members congregate for sessions, they surf, swim, do yoga, while sharing personal stories. "It gets people asking important questions, which are normally avoided about mental health," the charity explains on their website.
Harry and Meghan are outspoken supporters of the cause, having spearheaded Heads Together, a campaign to end the sitgma around mental health. So, they met up with OneWave on 'Fridays for Fluro' for an "anti-bad vibe circle." And since they're also outspoken supporters of breaking royal protocol, they ditched their shoes to go barefoot.
Apparently, Queen Elizabeth II hates it when Meghan wears wedges, preferring the Duchess to clop around every type of terrain in high heels. Well, guess what, Queen? Meghan didn't want to stumble around Bondi Beach in stilettos, like a drunken dinosaur. She's barefoot! Her toes, ankles, and other foot parts, exposed for the world to see! She's a fashion renegade and you can't control her! Wa ha ha!
What's more, the couple was photographed engaging in some very non-royal PDA. Ever since they started dating, Meghan and Harry have caused controversy with their public, in-your-face hand-holding. According royal protocol, there should be minimal touching between couples when they're out in public. In fact, recently Harry and Meghan stopped holding hands in front of the cameras, to appear more professional. However, while on Bondi Beach, they did more than hold hands. They put their arms around each other, and HE TOUCHED HER THIGH. It's madness, I tell you! Absolute madness!
This outrageous display of G-rated affection has rocked the internet, sending shivers of ice-cold terror down the spine of every member of the royal family. Okay, maybe not. Some persnickety critics might be annoyed, but most people find Meghan and Harry's PDA humanizing (and adorable).
"It's so hard to reach out for help," One Wave's co-creator, Grant Trebilco told The Guardian. "What Harry is doing with his Heads Together [charity] is amazing, letting people know it's OK to not be OK. Australia loves them. They're super passionate about mental health, they are showing that mental health does not discriminate. They're saving lives talking about it."
I'm guessing it's good for your own mental health to act like a normal couple once in a while, too.