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 appearances in Nottingham, greeting crowds in scenes that closely echoed their previous walkabout in the city nearly a decade ago.
Meghan, 45, accepted bouquets and told members of the public that it was “great to be back”. Harry, 42, repeatedly placed a protective arm around his wife as the couple stopped to pose for selfies.
Although the pair appeared pleased to return to Britain after six years in California, James said Harry’s firm grip on Meghan’s shoulder suggested “inner tension and caution” beneath the smiles.
“At one point he placed an arm around her shoulders in a ‘protective wing’ gesture,” James told the Daily Mail.
She said the clearest non-verbal sign of unease came from Harry’s fingers, which pressed tightly into Meghan’s shoulder near her neck. In James’s view, the gesture suggested he wanted to hold on to his wife and keep her close.
When Meghan put an arm around Harry’s waist in return, James described the resulting “double-cling” as making the couple appear to be “clinging together as survivors”.
The expert said their body language conveyed a sense of a “joyful return”, while also revealing “tension from Harry” and what appeared to be a strong instinct to protect Meghan.
Prince Harry and Meghan were “clinging together as survivors” during their first official engagement in the UK since Megxit, according to a body language expert
Despite appearing delighted to be back in Britain, body language expert Judi James said Harry’s tight grip on Meghan suggested “inner tension and caution”
James also pointed to the Sussexes’ “wide-open-mouthed smiles of delight”, likening their Nottingham walkabout to performers appearing before an “ecstatic audience at the O2 arena”.
She described the facial expressions exchanged by the couple as signs of delighted relief. At one point, Meghan looked across at Harry while holding several bouquets, flashing what James said appeared to be a compressed smile around the lower nostril and upper lip—an expression that might ordinarily suggest, “I told you it would all be ok.”
Harry’s wave to the crowd, made with a flattened palm, also appeared calculated to acknowledge what James interpreted as the public’s acceptance and continuing affection.
However, James suggested that beneath the couple’s high-profile return to the royal scene were subtle signs of discomfort.
She identified another revealing moment while Harry and Meghan watched an acting workshop, saying it echoed the earlier gesture in which Harry held his wife tightly.
“As Harry was in full flight, 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, with the fingers touching her throat,” James said. She described that movement as another common indication of vulnerability.
When Meghan looked at her husband, James said she noticed a brief expression resembling fear or worry. She concluded that the moment hinted at uncertainty beneath the couple’s presentation of a confident and victorious return.
Around 100 fans gathered to see Harry and Meghan during their first joint public appearance since the couple returned to the UK.
Meghan smiled as she shook hands and took selfies with members of the crowd. Among them was a boy who asked whether she lived in a mansion, while another wanted to know if she owned a Bentley.
The engagements took place after the King referred to the Sussexes as “private citizens”. He is in Wales with the Queen for an official engagement today.
Meghan sat with the fingers touching her throat which, according to Ms James, is a common sign of feeling vulnerable
While Meghan accepted bouquets from fans in the crowd and told them ‘it’s great to be back’, Prince Harry repeatedly placed a protective arm around her
For the engagement, the duchess wore a maroon turtleneck with a matching midi skirt, belt and pointed burgundy heels
Harry and Meghan held hands while taking selfies with well-wishers outside the Community Recording Studio, a youth and community charity
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 as the couple disappeared out of view into the community hub.
They are supporting several charities on their visit, including Nottingham’s largest food bank and a recording studio where Meghan will take part in an acting workshop.
The duchess appeared delighted as she chatted to supporters, several of them gave her cards, balloons, flowers and other gifts
Meghan and Harry’s walkabout on Thursday mirrored their last visit to Nottingham in 2017, which was their first official royal event together after announcing their engagement
The couple will also visit Epic Partners, a charity that offers sports mentoring for children aged four to 18, and the Himmah Hub, where they will be reunited with members of the Hubb Community Kitchen, a volunteer group from London, that they last visited in 2018.
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.’
Harry is focused on his charity work, especially Invictus, while Meghan is more focused on her lifestyle brand As Ever and her potential return to acting.
‘They have different professional priorities,’ one source explained. ‘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.’