Body Language Experts Analyze Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Nottingham Walkabout
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reunited with cheering crowds in Nottingham, but experts noticed possible signs of tension in their affectionate gestures.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public appearance in Nottingham since returning to the UK, where they stepped out for a walkabout and met the crowd gathered to see them. While the couple appeared affectionate as they greeted well-wishers, a body language expert noticed something interesting about the way they clung to each other.
Expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that while Harry appeared delighted to be back in Britain after six years in California, the way he held Markle by the shoulder could also suggest “inner tension and caution.” She said, “'At one point he placed an arm around her shoulders in a "protective wing" gesture.”
The expert added, “The non-verbal "tell" here of inner tension and caution came from his fingers, which dug tightly into Meghan's shoulder at neck level, suggesting he felt keen to clutch her and keep her even closer.”
She also said that when Markle put her arm around Harry’s waist in return, their “double-cling” made them look like they were “clinging together as survivors.” James added that while their body language projected a message of “joyful return,” there was also an underlying “tension from Harry” and a desire to protect his wife.
Another body language expert also weighed in on The Sussexes’ interactions, suggesting his gestures could be sending a message to the public about their marriage. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Dr. Beth Dawson said, “Harry's repeated touches on Meghan's back can be interpreted in a few different ways. He could be reassuring her. However, it can also be public signalling, and I think that’s what we’re seeing here. The back touching is more about endorsement.”
Dawson added, “Harry is saying to the public, 'We are a unit, we are a team,' and he's subconsciously saying, 'I support this person and what she’s doing.' It’s about solidarity more than reassurance.”
Markle was also seen kissing 90-year-old Irene Hardman on the cheek twice during a sweet exchange. Irene reportedly showed the Duchess a photo from the couple’s 2017 visit to Nottingham, when they were engaged. Commenting on the Duchess's body language while she interacted with the public, Dawson noted that she seemed comfortable engaging with the crowd, saying, “She positions herself towards them and stands close for selfies, and she knows this creates a sense of warmth and accessibility.”
