Meghan Markle has been branded ‘needy and clingy’ by royal fans after joining Prince Harry at a charity concert on Saturday.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, and her husband, the Duke, 41, made an unexpected appearance at Kevin Costner’s celebrity-filled fundraising event in Santa Barbara, delighting the audience at the One805LIVE! festival.

Yet, photos from the event, where Harry took the stage to present the Heart of Community Award, caused a stir online, largely due to Meghan seemingly holding onto her husband during his moment as host.

Images from the festival captured the Duchess joining the Duke in front of the crowd, first gripping his jacket and then wrapping her arms affectionately around him, while the Prince maintained his hold on the microphone.

The loved-up display ruffled feathers amongst some royal fans, who labelled Meghan’s behaviour as ‘clingy’ and ‘too much’.

A user on X commented: ‘What is wrong with this woman? She’s so needy and clingy,’ while another added: ‘I don’t know how Harry handles it! She’s constantly attached to him.’

A third joked: ‘She wants to be sure she isn’t cut out of the picture…,’ while a fourth wrote: ‘Always grabbing at him.’

Despite these observations, Meghan and Harry seemed in great spirits at the event, held at the Yellowstone actor’s coastal estate, which also featured high-profile guests like Oprah Winfrey.

On Saturday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured) took the opportunity to converse with first responders and law enforcement officers before stepping onto the stage to speak to the audience.

The couple’s latest outing together comes just weeks after Prince Harry, 41, reunited with his father King Charles for the first time in 18 months for a face-to-face meeting in London. 

On Saturday, the Duke and Duchess took time to chat with first responders and law enforcement officers before taking to the stage to address the crowd.

And while Meghan’s affection towards her husband at the charity event didn’t sit right with all fans, some were keen to defend the Duchess, with one person writing on X: ‘Isn’t he like her husband? What do you mean needy?’

A second added: ‘There isn’t nothing wrong with Meghan. Their intimacy and love for each other is clear to see. Nothing needy and clingy about that.’

Meghan cut a sophisticated figure in a midnight blue Caroline Herrera collared halterneck dress with tortoiseshell buttons and a waist-cinching sash for the outing on Saturday.

The Montecito-based mother-of-two completed her ensemble with a £631 two-tone brown clutch bag from Hunting Season New York, and a pair of £390 suede Ralph Lauren heeled shoes in a matching shade.

While Meghan usually wears her long, dark hair parted in the centre with very gentle waves, she opted to switch things up yesterday by moving her parting a little to the side and sporting bigger, more defined curls.

She also sported her £5,000 Cartier Love bangle, which she’s owned since at least 2017, and her late mother-in-law Princess Diana’s £17,800 gold Cartier Tank watch.

Meghan cut a sophisticated figure in a midnight blue Caroline Herrera collared halterneck dress with tortoiseshell buttons and a waist-cinching sash for the outing on Saturday

Reaction: Meghan was branded ‘needy and clingy’ by royal fans after joining Prince Harry at a charity concert on Saturday

The concert is an ‘annual benefit concert, bringing together legendary artists and passionate supporters to raise funds for essential equipment and mental wellness programs for Santa Barbara County’s first responders,’ per the official website.

Music artists that performed included Trisha Yearwood, Good Charlotte, and The Fray.

Oprah Winfrey, who has maintained a close relationship with Meghan and Harry over the years, also attended the event on Saturday.

In 2021, the couple sat down for an explosive interview with the TV personality, during which they made allegations against the Royal Family.

Earlier this month, Harry spent 50 minutes with King Charles at Clarence House – their first face-to-face meeting in 18 months.

And now high-level talks are underway to gradually bring Charles and Harry together in a public show of unity for the first time in at least six years.

The last time the pair appeared together at an official engagement was in April 2019 at the ‘Our Planet’ global premiere in the Natural History Museum in London.

Since Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020, they have only been pictured with other family members at the state funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.

While Meghan’s affection towards her husband didn’t sit right with all fans, some were keen to defend the Duchess, with one person writing on X: XXX

Harry (pictured with Meghan) addressed the crowds at the charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday

An appearance together of the King and Harry would be interpreted as a thawing of their relationship and the acceptance of the Sussexes and their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, back into the royal fold.

Meanwhile, after his four-day visit to the UK resulted in a reunion with his father, Meghan celebrated the return of her ‘beau’ Prince Harry by touting her $30 wine on Instagram.

The Duchess of Sussex commemorated the Duke’s return to Montecito – just in time for his 41st birthday – with a marketing-savvy post on the As Ever social media page.

In the Instagram Story, the mother-of-two can be seen pouring two glasses of the latest rendition of her own brand of rosé, which still appears to have not sold out online, on an ornately adorned wooden board outside, surrounded by flowers.

The sweet personal sentiment, accented by a glossy product snap, was followed by other reshares of fans sampling Meghan’s myriad of products, including her jam, marmalade and crepes.