Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were today reunited with Prince William and Kate for the first time in four months – in what one body language expert described as ‘not exactly the warm reunion we were hoping for’.
The Sussexes and Cambridges came together, at the Queen’s Commonwealth Service in Westminster Abbey, for the first time since they paid their respects at a Remembrance Day service in November.
It is also the last time they will all be together before Harry and Meghan bow out of royal duties and embrace their new life in North America.
But according to body language expert Judi James, Harry’s ‘tension was palpable’ as William seemingly failed to greet his brother.
Meghan was seen to mouth ‘hi’ and give a small wave to William and Kate, followed by a ‘hello’, as the Cambridges took their seat in the High Altar in the row in front of the Sussexes.
Harry also said ‘hello’ and smiled at his brother, who seemed to ignore him.
Ms James said: ‘It wasn’t the warm reunion that we were all hoping for. The tension in Harry’s body language especially was palpable.’
Prince Harry and Meghan walk behind the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Charles and Camilla, in Westminster Abbey this afternoon after attending the annual Commonwealth Service. Body language expert Judi James says the reunion of the Sussexes and Cambridges was full of tension, with Prince William seemingly failing to greet his brother
Meghan and Harry beamed and laughed as William said something upon his entrance, as they took their seats in the High Altar. Meanwhile, Prince Edward partly rose to greet the Cambridges, but Sophie and the Sussexes remained seated. Ms James described the meeting between William and Kate and Harry and Meghan as a ‘rather odd greeting ritual’
Meghan was seen to mouth ‘hi’ and give a small wave to William and Kate, followed by a ‘hello’, as the Cambridges took their seats in the row in front of the Sussexes. Ms James says: ‘For William though there was a mouthed “hello” from Meghan but a weak, mouth-closed smile from Harry and no sign that William responded’
The two couples were reunited for the first time since Harry and Meghan returned from Canada, where they have been staying with baby Archie.
‘When Harry arrived, the minute he and Meghan had to drop hands, he immediately reached for his wedding ring which is a self comfort.
‘Even when she was beside him after they had stopped holding hands, he was missing her, needing her support.’
She added: ‘As Harry walked up the aisle, they both waved at the children, but his face otherwise was quite tense and unsmiling.’
‘Harry and Meghan looked a lot more genuinely cheerful, and Harry especially, through a really affectionate smile at Kate,’ Ms James told the PA news agency.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex chatted as they awaited the arrival of the Queen. ‘Harry and Meghan looked a lot more genuinely cheerful, and Harry especially, through a really affectionate smile at Kate,’ Ms James said, before adding, ‘But when it was William, you could see Harry was slightly more rigid and his lips were closed’
‘But when it was William, you could see Harry was slightly more rigid and his lips were closed.’
Edward partly rose to greet the Cambridges, but Sophie and the Sussexes remained seated.
Meghan later chatted animatedly to Edward as they waited for the Queen to arrive, with Harry joining in the conversation and putting his arm on the back of Meghan’s chair as he did so.
But body language expert Judi James claims the siblings appeared ‘awkward’ with William seemingly failing to greet his younger brother.
She said: ‘As they took their seats Harry threw Kate an open-mouthed smile and ‘hello’ of what looked like genuine pleasure and Meghan raised her brows and smiled in an equally friendly ritual.
‘For William though there was a mouthed ‘hello’ from Meghan but a weak, mouth-closed smile from Harry and no sign that William responded.
‘Prince Edward engaged Harry and Meghan in some animated conversation until Charles and the Queen arrived.
‘Meghan dropped curtsies to both and smiled but Harry looked distinctly awkward as he started fiddling with his programme.’
Meghan later chatted animatedly to Edward as they waited for the Queen to arrive, with Harry joining in the conversation and putting his arm on the back of Meghan’s chair as he did so
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had walked in ahead of Prince William and Kate Middleton – the first public meeting of the two brothers and their wives since Megxit was announced two months ago – before Prince Charles and Camilla also arrived and the Queen then made an entrance to trumpet fanfare and cheers from crowds outside.
Ms James added: ‘The tension appeared to grow in Harry’s signals after William took his seat in front of him.
‘While Meghan curtsied and flashed a friendly, warm smile of greeting to Charles and the Queen, Harry appeared to be fiddling with his programme and later he appeared to be tapping his programme on his knee during the actual service.
‘His facial expression looked distant and his accelerated blinking even suggested he might have been fighting back tears sitting behind the backs of the heads of all the family members he would be saying goodbye to.
‘Harry’s jacket-pulling gesture of tension increased once the service was over and he stood behind the Cambridge’s to say goodbye to his hosts.
‘Meghan touched him on the arm in what looked like a gesture of affection and steering but once William and Kate had driven away we did seem to see a different Harry altogether.
‘Laughing and joking with the people outside, Harry’s relief looked so tangible that his sudden eyes to heaven and raised hands looked awfully like a signal of thanks.
‘He became animated and far more relaxed and holding Meghan’s hand again he looked like a man who felt he’s got the most difficult moments over and who could now return to being ‘Just Harry’ again with his wife and son.’
She added: ‘Meghan even leaned forward to touch Anthony Joshua on the arm to congratulate him for his speech’. Above, the Duchess of Sussex speaks with the heavyweight boxer in the Abbey
However, once the Cambridges had left the service, Ms James believes Harry and Meghan instantly relaxed.
She said: ‘With the other royals gone Harry & Meghan became an animated, tactile double-act again, with Harry chatting to Craig David as though he was an old friend and Meghan even leaning forward to touch Anthony Joshua on the arm to congratulate him for his speech.
‘Harry suddenly looked like a man reluctant to leave a party, throwing a thumbs up gesture to Joshua over his shoulder while Meghan touched Harry’s arm to steer him away.’
Last year, Harry and Meghan waited alongside William, Kate, Charles and Camilla for the Queen to arrive, before taking part in ‘The Procession of The Queen’.
This year, however, neither couple took part in the procession and simply made their way to their seats after greeting dignitaries.
From March 31, the monarch’s grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom, mostly in North America.