‘Megxit’ clues we missed in these royal photos
As the royals gather for crunch talks in Sandringham, an Australian body language expert reveals the hints Meghan and Harry dropped before their shock announcement.
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As the royals gather for crunch talks in Sandringham to determine the details of “Megxit”, an Australian body language expert looks back at the clues Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dropped in the run-up to their shock announcement.
THE NEW YEAR’S DAY POST
On January 1, the Sussexes published a charming image of Prince Harry with baby Archie against the backdrop of Vancouver Island. At the time, it was merely a happy holiday snap. But in hindsight, the post shows the proud father with his son in the environment that will soon become their permanent home.
“This is a perfect shot to endear Harry into the hearts of Canadians who may now inherit their own prince,” says Allan Pease, author of The Definitive Book of Body Language.
“The image shows a very relaxed father and son enjoying the Canadian sunshine and clear air in a relaxing place.
“Harry is showing the world that he wants his son to grow up in a relaxing environment without the media going after his family.
“He has been through so much and now he is taking a stand. We don’t see a lot of pictures of the boys together on their own and i think this show the love that Harry has for his baby Archie . Ten out of ten for Harry’s PR.”
2. THE CANADA HOUSE VISIT
Fresh from their six-week sabbatical in Canada, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their first public appearance of 2020 at Canada House in London, where they thanked the High Commissioner for the nation’s warm hospitality.
Allan Pease says the couple’s facial expressions had significantly changed in the past month.
“Towards the end of 2019, Meghan’s body language revealed emotional distance from Harry and territorial claims on Archie.
“Harry’s expressions showed anxiety, tension and being emotionally cut out of things. They are now relaxed and relieved - especially Harry, in the same way that someone would feel relief when leaving an unhappy relationship.
“Meghan is being very supportive, standing a little behind Harry so that he is in charge. In late 2019, she either stood beside him, in front or away from him, their body language is back to where it was in the beginning.”
Family man Prince Harry, the body language expert says, is taking a stand to protect his wife and child and is determined not to let them live the same life that he and his mother Princess Diana did.
“He is showing loyalty to his grandmother, the Queen, by saying he will be-part time and do what she needs him to do.
“But he has been a free spirit all his life and meeting Meghan has confirmed he doesn’t want to live the ‘royal’ life anymore.
“She is giving him the confidence to split and she knows they can support the family without the royals.”
Mr Pease said the couple would be able to demand huge appearance fees and had the potential to earn millions away from the restrictions of the royal family.
“Meghan is a very clever woman and she will be the leader in this way.
“This picture is showing that Harry is excited and his face is saying ‘I have got this’ and his hand is saying ‘I’ve done it’”.
WHAT KATE’S BIRTHDAY PHOTO REVEALS
As the world reeled from the Sussexes and their shock announcement, it was business as usual for the Duchess of Cambridge, who celebrated her 38th birthday.
Kensington Palace released a previously unseen image of Catherine in honour of her big day.
The sweet image, showing the Duchess wearing a recycled jumper, was in stark contrast to the drama surrounding the Sussexes.
Mr Pease said the carefully chosen image was meant to be “reassuring” for the British public and implied the queen-in-waiting was the “perfect royal”.
“At the moment she can do no wrong. Kate doesn’t make any waves and she follows the royal rules and is very suited to being in the royal family.
“She doesn’t want to be the superstar but she is getting what she wants, which is to be one of the most powerful women in the royal family.”
From the shocking scandal that engulfed Prince Andrew to the increasingly bizarre behaviour of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 2019 proved once again that the House of Windsor is just like any other dysfunctional family — only on a much grander scale.
For Australian body language expert Louise Mahler, images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex proved particularly telling.
The early images of the pair — especially those taken on the day of their fairytale wedding — clearly showed “a couple in love”, she says.
But photos from the couple’s much-maligned royal tour of Southern Africa in 2019 tell a different story, according to Dr Mahler.
“They’ve developed a secret language over time. But in the photos and video taken during their tour of Africa, Harry is a changed man and his mental state is dubious,” Dr Mahler told News Corp Australia.
“I think he’s got depression — when you watch the video, he’s not looking at her and she keeps grabbing at him. They are developing a dysfunctional relationship.”
Allan Pease says the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are going through what many couples experience after the birth of their first child, with Prince Harry “no longer the number one priority”.
“Suddenly there’s a third person in the relationship — he looks glum, he just doesn’t look happy.”
Mr Pease says this is in stark contrast to the early days when the couple “mirrored” each other.
In contrast, Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, display positive body language, with the Duchess “holding the power” in the relationship.
Dr Mahler said the carefree Prince Harry of old was long gone and he had shifted into “bodyguard mode” around his wife.
“His posture is firmly upright and his eyes are daring left to right. He’s slightly out of focus and he’s engaging more with the energy around him.
Dr Mahler said Meghan Markle was the one “holding it together”.
When it came to Prince Andrew, Dr Mahler offered a scathing assessment of his “disrespectful” behaviour during his controversial BBC interview.
The Duke of York vehemently denies having sex and any wrongdoing with one of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged slaves, Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
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“He’s clearly not a man our times and was disdainful of the whole interview process.
“He kept gasping for air and blinked too quickly — everything he did was quite repulsive.”
As the royal family continues to deal with the fallout from the year from hell, one member — Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew — is doing her best to break the cycle with her social media posts, which often feature throwback pictures of her childhood.
“Princess Eugenie’s Instagram account shows that she is happy to reveal her warmth and individuality to the world,” says Mr Pease.
“She includes some official photographs, but balances these with more relaxed and intimate photos which allows her audience to get to know her. She comes across as relatable and likeable, and gives the public a sense of her personality and passions.
“Compare this to Meghan Markle whose Instagram account looks more like a magazine shoot. She’s the hero in every photo and most of the photos are very ‘Hollywood’ and posed.
“By contrast, Prince Charles’ Instagram account is very official. He’s mostly dressed in regalia and being photographed at official events. Nothing reveals his personality, instead he’s saying ‘I’m your future king. These are all the things I do for my people’.”
Originally published as ‘Megxit’ clues we missed in these royal photos
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