The Duchess of Sussex made an unusual gesture during a joint appearance in Brussels that revealed a desire to “hide”, according to a body language expert. Meghan Markle attended the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial at the European Parliament with her husband, Prince Harry, on Tuesday.
The couple arrived hand-in-hand in the morning. Prince Harry delivered a speech, and the pair toured the memorial, a video installation honouring children who died as a result of online abuse and exploitation.
Speech Cancelled After Father's Arrest
Meghan had been expected to give a speech like her husband but backed out following her father Thomas Markle Senior’s arrest days earlier. He was arrested in Florida and charged with one count of possession of child sex abuse images.
The arrest came after FBI agents seized material from two Los Angeles storage units he had rented for nearly two decades. He is now on home detention and electronic tagging after being released on bail. Before his arrest, he denied the accusations and claims against him.
The situation has reportedly been distressing for Meghan, who still appeared in Brussels with her husband. While she ignored media questions about her father, the body language expert pointed to one gesture that showed how she wanted to “hide”.
Expert Analysis of Gestures
Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Express: “Meghan’s body language signals here appear set to project a message of some fragility and vulnerability. There are two key ‘tells’ to this messaging here: firstly as she walks into the area when, instead of greeting the press and her hosts with the usual arrival smile of delight, energy and confidence while quietly taking the lead, there is a trait of smile suppression from the way her lips part slightly but with a tightening of her top lip and then that non-verbal cue of a sense of wariness as she raises her hand to touch her hair in a partial barrier ritual.
“The second tell comes from the same left hand, which she then stuffs into her pocket. When Meghan frequently places one hand into a pocket, it is usually a gesture meant to show off her outfit at its fullest or to signal relaxed confidence, but here there is an intrinsic difference.
“Her whole hand is stuffed into that pocket, where normally the thumb would remain outside. This lets us know it is a gesture linked more to a desire to protect or hide than a desire to fashion-flaunt.”
Harry Appeared 'Wary'
James also said Meghan’s eyes suggested “some sadness”, while Prince Harry appeared “wary” while taking the lead. She commented: “Harry is leading and protecting his wife here, walking with his chest puffed and his left arm in front of hers so that her right arm is virtually hidden behind him. Her fingers curl up in the clasp while his appear to bend at the upper joint so that his fingertips are pressed into her hand.
“As Meghan looks fragile, his signals suggest wariness. He looks down as they arrive and at one point he lifts his right hand to stroke his beard in what is often a self-soothing gesture.”
The joint appearance in Brussels is the first time Harry and Meghan have stepped out together since Thomas Markle Senior’s arrest.
