Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s seemingly forced attempts at PDA had royal watchers buzzing about their latest awkward red carpet appearance, RadarOnline.com can reveal.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, and his wife, 44, held hands nonstop while posing for photos before being honored at Project Healthy Minds Gala in New York City, where the duo received Humanitarians of the Year awards.

Harry In Front

Photo of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Source: MEGAMarkle did not seem to enjoy being led into the event by her husband.

At one point, Harry’s hand brushed the backside of Markle’s butt. In others, they stood with their hands tightly clasped but with less than romantic expressions.

The former Suits star’s mask slipped several times as she was pictured glaring, while her husband had the rare opportunity to walk ahead of her.

He led the way to the step-and-repeat wall in front of photographers, breaking with how Markle frequently takes the lead in public outings, as she’s done since marrying the prince in 2018.

‘Palpable’ Tension

Photo of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Source: MEGARoyal watchers claimed the duo’s body language showed a lot of tension.

The couple didn’t seem in sync, and royal fans took notice of how the couple’s attempts at affection fell utterly flat.

“The body language! Yauch!” one person groused on X next to photos from the event. “Just look at his lifeless expressions. It’s sad, actually. He married a toxic narcissist, and he’s paying a huge price,” a second user claimed.

“Reminds me of the latter days of Charles and Di. He wants out,” a third person observed, referring to how Harry’s parents, King Charles III and the late Princess Diana, looked miserable in public appearances together before Queen Elizabeth II finally urged them to divorce in 1995.

“The tension appears rather palpable in the pictures. To be fair, Harry is awkward at these events, but Meghan, as ever, always overcompensates. Her fake ‘looks of love’ are just a little pathetic at this point,” a fourth person wrote on X.

The user added, “Nicole and Keith did that too, and we all know where that ended up,” referring to how Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban had a loved-up red carpet appearance a few months before splitting after 19 years of marriage.