I’m a body language expert – Meghan Markle displays Hollywood confidence at gala but here are the signs Harry is anxious
MEGHAN Markle displayed Hollywood confidence at a glitzy New York gala while Prince Harry acted anxious, a body expert has claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex was presented with the 2023 Women of Vision Award by pal Gloria Steinem at the Ms Foundation event last night.
Meghan donned a tight-fitting gold dress for the gala and was joined by Harry and her mum Doria Ragland.
It is her first public event since she missed out on King Charles III’s coronation on May 6 – with Harry going to the celebration alone.
But Meghan looked cool, calm and collected as she arrived in a stunning £1,481 gold Johanna Ortiz dress.
Body language expert Judi James told The Sun: “Dressed in a golden sheath, Meghan’s body language here showed it was very much Meghan’s night, with her adoring mother and husband showing pride and support.
“The arrival order reflected this, with no nod to royal protocol. Harry gets out of the car first but waits dutifully as Meghan walks in ahead looking every inch the star.
“Meghan’s entrance into the building involves A-list confident body language. Her arms are held away from her sides in a subtle splay that creates the assertiveness-signalling upturned V gap under the armpits.
“Meghan sweeps in behind Doria with Harry following behind. “
However, during their entrance Harry looked a little less comfortable on the carpet.
Judi explained: “Harry’s tie-touch rituals and his widened eye expression made him look a little anxious and startled when he first emerged from the car but his beaming smile as he walks behind his wife and her mother into the venue suggests nothing less than pride and excitement.”
The trio were then seen beaming as they posed for pictures on the event’s black carpet.
Judi explained: “In the family pose Harry is placed in the middle with his arms out behind the backs of his wife and mother-in-law.
“His pose and his energy signals are low-status and his smile looks bashful here.
“Meghan looks poised and confident beside him, with one arm round his back to signal family unity in the virtual group hug, while her other is straight to register confidence. Meghan’s facial expression and smile are symmetric but her mother’s mouth smile involves a pursing of the lips, which suggests total pride in her daughter.”
Guests said the duchess “became emotional” during the presentation at New York City’s Ziegfeld Ballroom.
She gave an “authentic” speech about issues that mattered to her as she accepted the award from feminist icon Steinem, who was on stage.
Guest Paul Didonato said: “Meghan was very gracious and beyond articulate. She was quite wonderful.
“She did become emotional. Seeing her on stage with Gloria Steinem felt like it was a cross generational moment.”
In a clip from the event shared by Town and Country writer Emily Burack, Meghan could be heard telling her audience: “You can be the visionary of your own life.”
She went on: “You can charter a path in which what you repeat in your daily acts of service, in kindness, in advocacy, in grace and in fairness, that those become the very things that are recognized by the next wave of women, both young and old, who will also choose this moment to join the movement, and make our vision for an equitable world, reality.”