MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry’s latest public appearance has sparked debate – with a body language expert calling the couple’s pose “performative” and “an announcement”.
Judi James, a leading body analyst expert, said Meghan’s body language suggested an “intense” way of projecting the couple, adding the picture showed “little signs of anything spontaneous”.
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The photo was posted onto Beyonce’s official tour website, after the couple attended the singer’s concert last night – following rumours they were living separate lives.
In the photo, the couple can be seen cuddling up and dressed up for the cowboy theme.
But Judi James told The Sun that the photo is anything but natural.
James said: “The body language in this ‘celebrity power couple’ pose could be defined as performative, ‘Photo-Me-booth’ quality with very little signs of anything spontaneous and totally natural.
She paid particular attention to Meghan’s hand positioning, which she said offers major insight into the intent.
James said: “The fact that the hand is so flattened adds to the suggestion of a performative pose being struck here.
“The fingers are straight rather than bent in a stroke or a clasp and this very self-conscious placing of the flat hand onto the chest signals not just ownership and close attachment but it also looks as retrospective as her dress and shoulder pose, as it is the kind of positioning that is usually used to display an engagement or wedding ring during an announcement.
“So, for Meghan this looks like an announcement pose, telling anyone watching that she and Harry are together and they are as close as they were in the early days of their engagement.”
She added: “This intense sense of projection suggests she is keen to get the message across that she and Harry are very much an item and very much still in the romantic stages of love.”
James also analysed Harry’s body language in the pose, describing it as awkward and uncomfortable.
She said: “His arm that is curled around his wife looks too high and rigid to be comfortable and his hand looks posed rather than relaxed.
“He’s placed the other hand in his pocket in an expression of suave casualness but the words ‘Fish out of water’ seem to apply here as he dives headlong into the world of celebrity culture.
“He is more thoughtful and ill-at-ease than his wife, who seems happy to see the Beyonce concert as an immersive event.”
Meghan’s overall look, James noted, seemed to call back to her acting days.
Meghan, 43, wore a royal blue dress, while Harry, 40, wore a khaki hat, jacket and black T-shirt.
On Instagram, Meghan called the gig a “very fun date night”, captioning her post: “About last night…. Thank you Beyonce and team for an amazing concert (and a very fun date night)! All love”.
She also shared a video of Harry kissing her on the cheek, and other pictures from the night including one with her arms wrapped around him.
The actress also revealed an engraving inside Prince Harry’s cowboy hat with his children’s names: “Archie, Lili, my love”.
It had the American and British flags.