Royal family
An expert has spoken with Showbiz Cheat Sheet exclusively about what the photos of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first U.K. outing really shows the public.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public appearance together since their surprise move back to the U.K.
The Sun reported that the pair were seen heading to the Falkland Arms pub in Oxfordshire on Oct. 1 to grab a bit to eat. The two were dressed casually and seen holding hands as they walked into the Cotswolds establishment, and now it’s been claimed that their pictures were staged.
Journalist Rob Shutter wrote on his Substack, “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s cozy new pub pictures may look spontaneous — but sources close to the couple tell Naughty But Nice the photo opportunity was anything but accidental.
“This has Meghan’s fingerprints all over it. She understands publicity, she understands pictures, and she understands exactly what message a photograph can send. They wanted to be seen together … No pap got incredibly lucky here. They’re holding hands, completely unobstructed and perfectly positioned.”
But an expert has analyzed the couple’s first public outing and said the photos of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had the opposite effect of looking PR perfect and signify trouble more than anything else.
Inbaal Honigman is a body language expert. She has appeared in the media for more than two decades, offering her expertise and perspectives on several pop culture figures for Big Brother’s Little Brother, Elle Magazine, and talkSPORT radio, to name a few.
Speaking on behalf of Casino.ca, Honigman told Showbiz Cheat Sheet exclusively, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex display very different body language cues. They appear out of sync with each other during their first public U.S. outing, which could point to a potential clash. As the two walk side by side to the pub, their body language fails to match at any point.
“When Harry looks ahead, Meghan is seen pointing and looking sideways, suggesting they may have different focuses or goals. When she holds a hand protectively in front of her upper body, he walks confidently, taking long strides with his arms swaying casually by his sides, highlighting their contrasting mindsets.”
Honigman added, “The prince then touches his ear in a sudden display of discomfort, while the former actress maintains a neutral, calm facial expression. It’s almost as though the two are on completely different outings to different pubs. Their mismatched body language communicates a period of disharmony within their household.
“Most interestingly, as they cross the hedge and embark on the path into the pub, Harry walks several paces behind his wife. This is an unsupportive way for a husband to walk alongside his partner. He could be more supportive by staying at her side, where she can see him and depend on him, or by walking just an inch or two behind her, showing that he’s ‘got her back.’ Harry’s choice to maintain such a long gap between them is curious and could be another sign of potential friction between the couple.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
