Prince Harry and Meghan Markle show ‘tension’ in video appearance as Invictus Games tour announced

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest video appearance sparks speculation of marriage trouble as the pair announce plans for an overseas visit. Watch video.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave a rare update on their children in a new video that body language experts said showed signs of “tension”.

In their first public appearance together since their so-called “near-catastrophic” car chase in New York, the Duke and Duchess thanked members of their Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund for their work in protecting Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2, from online harassment.

The smiling couple’s united front, filled with laughs and focused on their children, follows rumours of a rift in their marriage and fierce denials that Prince Harry had one foot out the door.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in matching beige, in what appears to be the garden of their California home. Picture: Supplied

“This is amazing, this is exactly why we do what we do, this is exactly why the Youth Power Fund was created,” Prince Harry said.

“Thank you for doing everything that you do, our kids are especially grateful,” he added, before Meghan chimed in to say Archie and Lilibet would one day be thankful too.

“They don’t know it yet, but they will,” she said.

Body language expert Judi James, however, said they were “full of smiles” but that Prince Harry’s persona changed dramatically as the clip continued.

“His beaming smiles drop at one point as he listens to a mention of mental health, sucking his lips in and chewing at his lower lip in a gesture of seriousness and concern,” Ms James said.

“He also seems to glance across at Meghan a couple of times as he talks but we’re not shown her employing her signature levels of eye contact and adoring face-gazing on Harry,” she added in an interview with The Mirror.

“There is no touch between them shown in this clip and no mutual glances shown, either. At one point Meghan is looking down listening to the caller and her eyes seem to start to scan upward but her gaze drops again before reaching Harry’s eyes.”

“There are small signs of potential tension. Meghan’s profile smile shows a muscle working in her cheek and a slight lower jaw jut while Harry is at one point holding onto the back of the seat with one hand.”

Archie and Lilibet were not included in the video. Picture: Supplied

It comes as a key Biden family member “endorsed” Meghan for US president, according to The Daily Mail, amid speculation the Duchess was planning a White House bid to shine up her fading Hollywood star power.

It’s the second time the Biden matriarch has offered her support to Meghan, who she said on Good Morning Britain would “make a good presidential candidate one day.”

The latest endorsement for Meghan to enter politics comes after the Duke and Duchess were dropped from Spotify and their public appearances shifted to activist causes backed by the Archewell Foundation, which serves on the advisory committee for the US-based group that supports efforts to minimise online harm to incoming generations.

Emma Lembke, one of the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund recipients thanked by the Duke and Duchess, said she was working to inform legislation to “create a safe online world” for kids, like Archie and Lilibet, that need to be protected.

“Thank you for all the work you’re doing. It’s huge. It’s making an enormous impact,” Meghan said in the video.

Prince Harry thanked people working to reduce the harm of cyber-bulling on behalf of their kids. Picture: Supplied

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry put on a united front. Picture: Supplied

Appearing to be filmed in Montecito, the video showed Prince Harry and Meghan in matching beige. Meghan was said to have been wearing a $A288 camel sleeveless top and matching $A248 skirt from Malibu brand Bleusalt.

Absent from the short video were Archie and Lilibet, who haven’t been seen in public recently other than in the background of random Instagram clips.

In a statement on the Duke and Duchess’s official website, the Archewell Foundation said it was proud to support the initiative aiming to shape laws in the US to govern artificial intelligence and promote the safety and wellbeing of online communities.

“In celebration of this work, co-founders of The Archewell Foundation, Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex called members of the group to congratulate them on their award,” the statement said.

MEGHAN, HARRY TO VISIT EUROPE

It comes as the pair announced that Meghan will join Prince Harry at next month’s Invictus Games in the German city of Dusseldorf.

It will be the couple’s first appearance together at a public event since the Women of Vision gala in New York.

The Sussexes at last year’s Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands. Picture: WireImage

German newspaper Rheinische Post reported that the Duchess of Sussex will be moderating a farewell show for families and competitors on the last day of the Games, a multi-sport event for wounded and injured servicemen and women.

It’s not yet clear whether the couple will bring their children with them or if they will visit the UK.

SPOTIFY BLAMED FOR $20m DEBACLE

In a surprise move, industry insiders have come out rallying for the Sussexes in the aftermath of their failed $20-million Spotify deal.

In the wake of the break-up last June, Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of global sports strategy, called the ex-royals “f – – king grifters” and “lazy” while others accused them of being “difficult”.

But in a new People magazine cover story, some insiders have defended the Sussexes, saying they weren’t given a chance to succeed.

“They were given no formal lay of the land to kick things off, so they were already on unsteady footing even before the ink was dry,” an anonymous source close to the Archetypes production told the outlet.

The source went on to allege that the Sussexes “have a lot of ideas and did pitch them,” but there was a lot of red tape to contend with. “Things moved very slowly on both ends.”

Another anonymous source said the pair had been judged unfairly for producing a limited amount of content.

“Very few other production companies are measured by what’s actually hit the airwaves,” the source said.

Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle show ‘tension’ in video appearance as Invictus Games tour announced