Meghan Markle appeared to project fragility and vulnerability during her public appearance in Brussels, with a body language expert suggesting her gestures revealed a "desire to protect or hide." The Duchess withdrew from her scheduled keynote address to the European Parliament, with a source telling The Telegraph she is "not strong enough emotionally."
First public appearance since father's arrest
This marked the first time Meghan has been seen in public since her father, Thomas Markle Sr., was arrested and charged with possession of child abuse material. Both Meghan and Prince Harry were due to deliver keynote speeches on online child safety, but only Harry spoke at the event.
Speaking to the Daily Express, body language expert Judi James identified two key "tells" in Meghan's demeanor. James noted that as Meghan walked into the area, instead of greeting the press and hosts with her usual arrival smile, there was a trait of smile suppression.
Signs of wariness and protection
James observed that Meghan's lips parted slightly but with a tightening of the top lip, followed by a non-verbal cue of wariness as she raised her hand to touch her hair in a partial barrier ritual. The second telling gesture came from the same left hand, which she then stuffed 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," James said. "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."
Sombre outfit and Harry's protective stance
James added that Meghan's eye expression suggested sadness, noting her eyes normally "sparkle" in public, but this time the "amused and excited look has vanished," leaving her in a more "reflective state." Her "sombre" outfit, including a black coat pulled in hard at the waist with a tight double knot and a turned-up collar, suggested "no desire to showboat confidently," according to James.
The body language expert also described Harry's role, saying he appeared to be "leading and protecting his wife," walking with his chest puffed and his left arm in front of hers, hiding her right arm. James noted Harry looked down as they arrived and at one point lifted his right hand to stroke his beard in what is often a self-soothing gesture. At the Brussels event, Prince Harry delivered the speech on his own.
