The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their first public appearance together since Thomas Markle Sr was arrested and charged with possessing child abuse images, with Meghan reportedly looking close to tears throughout.
The couple attended an event at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, days after Meghan's father was charged and taken into custody after allegedly removing an electronic tag he was ordered to wear while on bail.
Body language signals concern
Meghan did not comment on her father's arrest when questioned by journalists at the event. She had been due to deliver a speech on the dangers children face online, but reportedly decided against it after feeling "not strong enough" to address dignitaries.
Body language expert Susan Constantine told Page Six that Harry appeared particularly "concerned" with his surroundings throughout the event. She said: "The repeated stroking of his beard, coupled with his serious countenance, gives the impression of someone deep in thought and perhaps unsettled by the circumstances."
Emotional moments at the event
Constantine said Meghan "maintained her composure and put on a brave face for the cameras, but a visible heaviness lingered in her expression," adding that "it almost appears as though she is fighting back tears."
Images from the event show Meghan and Harry sharing a touching moment with Sandra Spitaels after she delivered a speech about her child's suicide. Sandra's 15-year-old son Glenn took his own life in 2017 after a nude image of him was posted online. Meghan comforted her, placing her hand on her back and occasionally rubbing it as they spoke. Harry also appeared to ask: "Are you OK?"
Harry's speech on social media dangers
Meghan was also pictured listening intently to Harry's speech, which addressed the dangers posed by social media. He said: "Every single person in this room, whether parents or not, have a responsibility and a duty to be able to do what is effectively common sense and protect our children from these companies who clearly don't care. Every time you look at your phone, just remember that there's a child out there that is looking at that phone 20, 30 times more, probably considering taking their life because they don't know how to escape."
Meghan is said to be throwing herself into work and family amid the legal proceedings against her father, "believing she can do something good through that work", a source said.
