A body language expert has dissected a seemingly light-hearted moment between Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and a young fan, suggesting her reaction was far more telling than it first appeared. The analysis focuses on a video clip filmed outside the couple's Montecito home during production for a since-scrapped Netflix project.
The incident unfolded when a young girl in a small crowd of well-wishers called out, "I like your baby!" Meghan, holding son Archie, smiled and thanked her. The girl then added, "And I like Princess Charlotte too!"
This second comment prompted a burst of laughter from the Duchess, a reaction that body language expert Judi James claims was loaded with unspoken meaning.
The Expert's Breakdown: A 'Nervous' and 'Defensive' Signal
According to James, Meghan's laughter was not a genuine expression of amusement but a classic "pacifying behaviour." She describes it as a "defensive," "nervous," and "self-conscious" response to a comment that may have inadvertently touched a nerve.
"This isn't the laughter of someone finding something funny," James stated. "It's a incongruent reaction. The words 'Princess Charlotte' seem to act as a trigger, causing a moment of social anxiety or discomfort."
James suggests the laughter was a mechanism to quickly move past the remark, acting as a "social smokescreen" to mask any potential unease. The expert interpreted the gesture of touching her own chest as a self-soothing, pacifying action often used in moments of stress.
Context is Key: Strained Relations and a Scrapped Project
The expert's analysis is framed by the wider context of the Sussexes' relationship with the rest of the Royal Family at the time. The filming occurred amidst a period of publicly strained relations, following their step back as senior royals and ahead of their tell-all interviews and the release of Prince Harry's memoir, Spare.
This particular clip was filmed for a Netflix project that was ultimately abandoned as the couple pivoted their content creation strategy. The footage, however, offers a fleeting glimpse into the complex dynamics at play, interpreted through the lens of non-verbal communication.
James concludes that the reaction, while subtle, was a telling micro-expression that hinted at the underlying tensions surrounding royal connections at that specific moment in time.
