A body language expert has claimed Prince Harry made a telltale gesture during his latest public appearance with Meghan Markle. The pair's outing in Nottingham on Thursday (October 15) marked the couple's first joint public engagement since returning to the UK in August.
Ahead of taking part in a series of events linked to their charitable work in the city, the pair stopped to chat with well-wishers and also collected gifts.
Expert notes Harry's anxious movements
Observing the pair, body language specialist Beth Dawson noticed the return of a habit from Harry. While some might expect Meghan to be the more anxious of the two, Beth believes the Duke of Sussex showed clearer signs of nervousness throughout the engagement.
She shared: "What is interesting is Harry’s behaviour. We see him going from side to side and moving quite quickly."
"He does not use slow relaxed movements and he is repeatedly wiping his palms against his trousers," she added, reports The Express.
"This tells me he might be nervous as either he has sweaty palms, which can occur during stress, or it could be a self-soothing gesture," she added.
"I have seen him do this before and it seems to be one of his habits and go-to gestures when he's in public."
"Although we can't know whether he is actually sweating. What interests me is the possibility that we're seeing a small self-soothing and nervous habit during a very public encounter," she continued.
Meghan's acting background and a significant gesture
Meanwhile, Beth also believes Meghan may find it easier to conceal any nerves thanks to her background in acting.
"Meghan's background as a trained actress is relevant here, particularly when considering her familiarity with cameras, audiences and public-facing events," she added.
"Meghan understands the importance of making individual members of a crowd feel acknowledged and she does this well with smiles, handshakes and closeness."
The expert also believes a gesture Harry made towards Meghan during the engagement could reveal something significant about their marriage.
The couple were last seen in Nottingham in December 2017, just four days after announcing their engagement. They married the following year and have since welcomed two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Life in the Cotswolds
Harry and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal duties in 2020 before relocating to California. They returned to the UK in August, although they remain non-working members of the Royal Family.
The couple are believed to be living in the Cotswolds, an area popular with numerous celebrities, including the Beckhams, Ellen DeGeneres and Princess Anne. Earlier this month, they were spotted walking into a local pub where they are believed to have enjoyed lunch.
A friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told The Sun: "They are enjoying exploring the area including local watering holes. Meghan has been spending a lot of time since their move to the UK making sure the children are settled and working on her As Ever brand. When they aren’t working, like most couples they like to spend time together."
