A body language expert has revealed how Harry’s arrival in London has sparked a ‘game of chess’ between Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and his elder brother, Prince William
Prince Harry has touched down in the UK ahead of his appearance at tonight’s WellChild Awards, making a rare trip to his home country after years of estrangement from the royal family.
While Harry went to Windsor to pay his respects to the late Queen on the anniversary of her passing, Prince William and Kate were at an engagement of their own, also honouring Queen Elizabeth three years after her death in 2022.
With the warring brothers seemingly determined to avoid each other, a body language expert has decoded what their stacked calendars really mean. Meanwhile, rumours are still flying that Harry could well reunite with his father, King Charles, while in the UK this week.
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Judi James told the Mirror that by both Harry and William busying themselves mere moments after the Duke of Sussex arrived in London, it seems they are both intent on keeping themselves preoccupied so as not to run into each other.
She said: “Harry’s arrival in the UK seems to have triggered a game of royal chess, with characters moving around the board to avoid being check-mated by the rogue royal on his flying visit.”
Speaking of Harry’s not-so-secret trip to St George’s Chapel, Judi added: “We’ve already seen Harry on a ring doorbell looking like a fan of the impromptu drop-in, and William’s outing to Sunningdale might have left one (future) queen alone and socially vulnerable if a request for afternoon tea was made.”
The body language expert went on to speculate that by Princess Kate joining Prince William at the last minute for his trip to Sunningdale, she has armed herself with an excuse on the off chance that Harry would try to see his sister-in-law.
She said: “Kate and Harry used to be so close, and whereas a ‘Sorry I’m up in Sunningdale’ response might be neutral and polite enough, being at home but turning him down could make Kate risk being made to look like the bad guy when Harry reported back to the US.”
“There’s a huge difference in being unavailable and appearing to actively shun someone, and the movements of the royals today suggest they are very mindful of the dangers of the ‘Harry effect’ on their own image and popularity.”
While William and Kate have been marking the anniversary of the late Queen in their own way, Judi believes that such an event may not stop Harry from spinning his own story about why his family have chosen not to see him.
“Harry has many excuses to play the victim here if he so chooses, especially if it is made to look as though his close family members turned their backs on him while he was busy supporting his charities,” she said.
“There have already been headlines implying he would be keen for some sort of reunion, and if doors were being literally shut in his face, it could risk making the Firm look cruel and cold in the eyes of the rest of the world if the story was spun that way.”