The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared to be “clinging together as survivors” during their first official engagement in the UK since Megxit, according to body language expert Judi James.
Harry and Meghan undertook a series of royal-style engagements in Nottingham, beginning with a public walkabout that closely echoed their appearance in the city almost a decade ago.
Meghan, 45, accepted bouquets from well-wishers and told the crowd that it was “great to be back”. Harry, 42, repeatedly placed a protective arm around her while the couple posed for selfies.
Although the couple appeared delighted to return to Britain after six years in California, James said Harry’s firm grip on his wife’s shoulder could also indicate “inner tension and caution”.
“At one point he placed an arm around her shoulders in a ‘protective wing’ gesture,” Ms James told Our News Outlet.
She said the prince’s fingers were pressed tightly into Meghan’s shoulder near her neck, a non-verbal sign that suggested he felt a strong need to hold on to her and keep her close.
When Meghan responded by wrapping an arm around Harry’s waist, James described the resulting “double-cling” as making the pair appear to be “clinging together as survivors”.
The expert said their gestures projected a sense of a “joyful return”, while also revealing “tension from Harry” and what appeared to be a strong desire to protect his wife.
Prince Harry and Meghan appeared to be “clinging together as survivors” during their first official engagement in the UK since Megxit, according to a body language expert
Despite seeming pleased to be back in Britain, body language expert Judi James said Harry’s tight grip on his wife pointed to “inner tension and caution”
Ms James also drew attention to the Sussexes’ “wide-open-mouthed smiles of delight”, comparing their walkabout to performers appearing before an ecstatic audience at London’s O2 Arena.
“There were facial expressions of delighted relief exchanged,” she said. During one extended conversation with members of the crowd, Meghan smiled at Harry over an armful of bouquets, displaying what James described as facial movements associated with the message: “I told you it would all be ok.”
James added that Harry’s raised, flat-palmed “hail” gesture appeared intended to acknowledge the crowd’s acceptance and continuing affection.
However, beneath the display of the couple “bursting back onto the royal scene”, the expert said there were also subtle signs of unease.
She identified another possible sign of tension while Harry and Meghan watched an acting workshop.
“As Harry was in full flight, Meghan sat with one arm wrapped around her own torso in a self-embrace, while her other hand was raised in a ‘broken wing’ gesture of performed vulnerability, with her fingers touching her throat,” Ms James said.
She concluded that, as Meghan looked towards her husband, a brief expression resembling fear or worry appeared in her eyes. James said this hinted at a degree of uncertainty beneath the couple’s confident presentation of a victorious return.
Around 100 fans gathered in Nottingham to welcome Harry and Meghan during their first joint public appearance in the UK since their return.
The Duchess smiled as she greeted supporters and took selfies, including with a boy who asked whether she lived in a mansion and another who wanted to know if she owned a Bentley.
The engagements followed the King’s description of the Sussexes as “private citizens”. He is in Wales with the Queen for an official engagement today.
According to Ms James, Meghan sat with ‘one arm wrapped around her own torso in a self-embrace while the other hand was raised in a “broken wing” gesture of performed vulnerability’
For today’s engagement, Meghan wore a brown turtleneck with a matching midi skirt and burgundy heels
Harry and Meghan holding hands while taking selfies with well-wishers outside the Community Recording Studio (CRS), a youth and community charity
While Meghan, 45, accepted bouquets from well-wishers and told them ‘it’s great to be back’, Prince Harry, 42, repeatedly placed a protective arm around his wife
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Nottingham is the city where the couple carried out their first royal walkabout together after announcing their engagement in 2017.
But almost a decade on, Meghan does not see herself as a working royal and is instead more of a ‘full-time mum and entrepreneur’, a friend has said, adding that public events like this with her husband will be ‘rare’ for her.
Meghan took bunches of yellow and white flowers from supporters who had waited to see her and Harry this morning.
The couple were given balloons, including one in the shape of a unicorn. The duke stopped to tell one woman he liked her bright pink jacket and that it was ‘very nice’ to see everyone.
Emily Davis, 21, who gave Meghan a bunch of yellow flowers said it was an honour to meet her.
Ms Davis told the Press Association: ‘I gave her flowers, and I shook her hand. I just said, “I’ve always wanted to meet you. It’s an honour”.
‘She looks amazing up close. She was dressed amazingly. I gave her a card, and she folded it up and put it in her pocket so she can read it later.’
Ms Davis said she wrote on the card that Meghan ‘really inspires’ her.
Harry and Meghan were greeted by the chief executive of the Community Recording Studio, Trevor Rose, before they entered the building.
The crowd cheered excitedly when the couple disappeared out of view into the community hub.
They are supporting a number of charities, including a community food project established in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and a recording studio where Meghan will take part in an acting workshop.
The Sussexes are visiting three charities, starting with the Community Recording Studio, where Meghan is due to take part in an acting workshop.
The Duchess appeared delighted to meet crowds
Meghan and Harry’s during today’s quasi-royal engagement
The couple will then visit the Himmah food bank alongside the Hubb Community Kitchen and Epic Partners, a charity offering sports mentoring for children aged four to 18.
Hubb, which was established after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 lives in June 2017, has long been a passion project for Meghan. She wrote the foreword to its 2018 cookbook, Together.
There is a ‘really nice synergy’ in their return to Nottingham nine years on, a source said, while adding that things have changed since they were last there.
And Meghan, who was out for lunch with her royal wedding hairdresser in London yesterday, will not be making these kinds of visits often.
‘Her public appearances will be relatively rare. She is reading a lot of scripts at the moment. If she has time left after all of that, she will do some charity work,’ the Sussex source said.
‘But she’s not a working royal. Her day isn’t organised around a programme pulled together by a private secretary. She’s a full-time mum and entrepreneur, and that alone takes up a lot of time and work.’
Meghan is hoping to launch As Ever in the UK by the end of this year.
Harry is focused on his charity work, especially Invictus, while Meghan is more focused on business and her potential return to acting.
‘They have different professional priorities,’ one source told the Telegraph.
‘Prince Harry’s is his philanthropic work and public service. Her focus is on her family and children, followed by her business, followed by rebooting her acting career.’
