Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: Body language expert gives verdict on new portraits
A body language expert tells how the latest images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have exposed their true feelings.
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An Australian body language expert has weighed in on the stunning new images of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, which come just days after the release of a new official image of Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
Nigerian-British photographer Misan Harriman, a friend and frequent collaborator of the Sussexes, revealed the striking new photos of the couple on Twitter.
According to Harriman, the images were taken “moments before” Markle and Prince Harry took the stage at the One Young World Summit’s opening ceremony in Manchester on September 5, just days before the sudden death of the Queen.
In one shot, the Duchess looks directly at the camera while interlocking her hand with the Duke, who is giving the camera his trademark boyish smile.
Body language expert Dr Louise Mahler said her first impression of the pair’s hand-holding in the colour image was that it showed the “gentleness of touch” as well as “love, intimacy and comfort.”
“Meghan stands totally in her power and her hand is lightly resting on Harry, whose hand, in turn, is very relaxed and unclenched, with his thumb gently touching the top of one finger and the other supporting it tenderly below,” Dr Mahler told News Corp Australia.
Prince Harry’s smile in the image was interesting, the body language expert said, in that it was not an expression of “unbridled joy”.
“A smile may mean contempt, anger or incredulity, that we’re lying or that we’ve lost, Dr Mahler said.
“For Harry, this is a happy smile of the cat that got the cream ... I would place it mostly in the basket of contempt.
“Disconcertingly similar to a smile of true delight, but the corners of the lips appear tightened and there may be a slight tongue push behind his bottom lip as if to challenge the viewer.
“His head is slightly tilted forward, with the chin drawn in and his left eye draws up from the bottom in a slightly shielded gaze.”
Dr Mahler said the Duke of Sussex looked as if he was “challenging the viewer”.
“This is happy, but not from an internal source of good feeling, but more from an external source - ie what is going on around him, which will have a lot to do with Meghan.”
Markle’s red pant-suit, combined with her piercing stare, was power dressing as its best, Dr Mahler said.
“If you want to attract attention, this is the colour ... Meghan screams ‘power’ in it, highlighted by a huge stand out costume ring on her right hand and plain, but large gold earrings.
“As is her theme, a message a of ‘we are different’, ‘we break the rules’, Meghan makes a solid anti-royal statement by wearing red.”
The pair’s facial expressions spoke volumes, Dr Mahler said.
“Meghan’s gaze tells us she is awake and alive, but fully focused and calm, but I also notice a sense of damage or hurt, especially from the slightly lifted right lower eye.”
A second black and white image shows the couple from the side as they prepare to take the stage in Manchester. They are holding hands, with their fingers intertwined.
“The interlocking hands in the black and white photo is a sign of total intimacy,” Dr Mahler said.
“One body part fully coiled around the other, fingers wrapped around fingers, like organs intertwined and bodies united. This is a strong symbol of their pleasure as a couple, while at the same time the fingers are loose and relaxed.”
In the black and white image, Dr Mahler said, Prince Harry looks daunted and “like a soldier about to go to battle” while Markle stands firm and poised.
“She is carrying him in performance,” Dr Mahler said.
The striking images were taken the same day the Sussexes were pictured with bodyguard Pere Daobry, who was labelled a “wife beater” following revelations he choked his wife until she was “seconds away from death”.
The ex-Metropolitan Police officer was convicted in 2016 after attacking his partner, Sarah Jay, in what has been described as an “appalling” and “savage” incident, The Sun reported.
Royal watchers have pointed to the timing of the formidable new images by Misa Harriman, which appear to symbolise the Sussexes’ strength as a couple and comes just days after Buckingham Palace shared a new photo of King Charles III with Camilla Queen Consort and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The portrait, taken by Chris Jackson, shows the four royals in black mourning clothes and was taken at Buckingham Palace on the night before the Queen’s funeral.
The image appears to represent King Charles’ vision of a slimmed-down monarchy centred around Prince William and Catherine.
Harriman shot Markle’s pregnancy photos while she was expecting daughter Lilibet Diana as well as Lili’s first birthday portrait.
It comes amid revelations of Markle’s “obsession” with getting the Palace to release a statement about her feud with Catherine.
The Princess of Wales reportedly “burst into tears” in a row with Markle over dresses during a bridesmaid fitting in 2018.
But during her infamous Oprah interview the Duchess of Sussex hit back at the story, claiming it was she who was made to cry by Catherine.
The latest extract from Valentine Low’s book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind The Crown, claims Markle was “obsessed” that the record be put straight following the incident.
The Duchess of Sussex was allegedly desperate for the palace to “put something out” denying the story.
“The truth is that, after the dress fitting, Meghan had become obsessed with trying to persuade the palace press office to put something out denying the story,” Low writes.
“However, (the palace) were equally adamant that it would be a serious mistake to start briefing about personal stories relating to differences between members of the royal family.”
Low then claims that the palace wanted to avoid commenting on “personal tittle-tattle”.
“On Oprah, Meghan went further than denying the Kate-in-tears story, however. Instead, she said, the reverse had happened.”
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