Royal family
A renowned body language specialist has turned the spotlight on the Duke of Sussex, analyzing his conduct at a recent event following news of his and Meghan Markle’s anticipated return to England with their children.
With the buzz surrounding their return to the U.K., Prince Harry made an appearance at a Washington, D.C. event focused on advocating for veterans. During the event, questions about his family’s homecoming were inevitable, and his response remained tightly sealed.
The prince chose to keep his words sparse, asserting he had “nothing to say.” Nevertheless, as per the insights of the body language expert, Harry’s unspoken sentiments about the transition were vividly manifest in his expressions and gestures, offering more than any words might convey.
Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert. He has a degree in psychology and previously worked as a police officer, using his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.” Stanton now offers his expert analysis on high-profile public figures such as the royals. He analyzed photos from the function and noticed just how “genuinely happy” the duke appeared.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, Stanton told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “What really stands out to me is just how elated and relaxed he appears at the prospect of returning to the U.K. From a body language perspective, there’s been a really noticeable shift in him. In this footage, his posture is much more open and relaxed. His shoulders are dropped rather than raised or tense, and there’s a general lack of the physical signs we often associate with stress.
“His facial expressions are also really telling. We’re seeing genuine signs of happiness, including the crow’s feet around the eyes and the upward movement of the cheek muscles, which are much harder to replicate consciously. These are the sorts of cues we often see when Harry is genuinely enjoying himself, such as when he’s attending events like the Invictus Games.”
Stanton continued, “What’s particularly interesting is the contrast with what we’ve seen of Harry in recent years. When he’s under pressure, his body language can become much more closed and tense. His shoulders tend to rise, we can see increased color in his face, and there are often micro-expressions of anger, along with lip suppression and other signs of emotional restraint. In this instance, we’re seeing almost the complete opposite.
“I think that’s what makes this particularly interesting from a body language perspective. Whatever has been happening behind the scenes, Harry appears to be feeling a lot more positive and hopeful. There’s a sense of relief and genuine excitement, rather than worry about what is to come. This suggests that the prospect of being back in the U.K. and potentially being reunited with members of his family is something that is making him genuinely happy”
The expert added, “What will be particularly interesting is seeing Harry’s body language in future interactions with the king and other members of the royal family. That will give us a much clearer indication of whether those bridges have been rebuilt. For now, though, purely from Harry’s own body language, he looks like a man who feels an enormous amount of relief. He appears genuinely happy, relaxed and, perhaps most importantly, comfortable with the prospect of coming home.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.