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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first joint appearance in months as they appeared in a video message to speak about the importance of child protection online
After months of speculation about living separate lives, all eyes were on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they made their first joint appearance in two months. The pair made a strong statement as they appeared together in a video to share a message about the importance of child protection online at a UN conference in Colombia. In the video, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – who relocated to California in June 2020 – stood firmly side by side and looked directly into the camera but, despite their united front, the couple seemed “emotionally reserved”.
Body language expert Adrianne Carter told OK! : “Harry and Meghan are both holding themselves in a very formal, emotionally reserved way, which could be because of the nature of the context the video is for. Their similar attire suggests a desire to present a united front.” In the footage, Meghan was seen with her hair loose over her shoulders, wearing a smart navy blazer, while Harry looked dapper in a shirt paired with a jacket. The couple – parents to Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – also both sported a poppy on their clothes in honour of Remembrance Sunday, and Adrienne also thinks that Meghan and Harry, 40 – last seen leaving Tyler Perry’s star-studded 55th birthday party in Montecito on Sept. 14 – deliberately chose “conservative” outfits.
She said: “Choosing navy, a warm yet conservative colour, indicates they aim to project a formal and traditional appearance.” In their speech at the first Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children, Harry emphasised the critical need for effective protective measures for young ones, underlining the immediacy required for action after heightened awareness. He pointed out: “We are at a crossroads and the urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident. While the necessity has always been apparent, it’s now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action.”
Meghan, aged 43, chimed in with, “My husband and I recognise that today’s reality is marked by greater connectivity and advanced technology, which, of course, has many positives. However, it also compels us to better understand how digital violence against children is manifesting itself in this age.” And while the duo have received praise for leveraging their prominent status to draw attention to important issues, since their widely talked-about royal-esque tour in August, Meghan and Harry had been seen only in individual appearances.
Despite the ex-‘Suits’ actress having once described them as inseparable as “salt and pepper”, a comment from Adrienne suggests that Meghan’s demeanor during their first joined public outing might be rather telling. “Meghan’s expression [in the photographs] revealed a subtle, classic sign of contempt: one corner of her lip is raised and tightened higher than the other. This expression suggests she might be feeling a sense of superiority at that moment,” Adrienne claimed.
The outing was yet another indication of their pledge to focus on digital safety and children’s welfare – an issue Harry had previously championed on his September solo trip to New York. However, this uncommon joint venture has led several experts to speculate about their body language, including Darren Stenton speaking on behalf of Spin Genie. Commenting on their demeanour, Darren claimed there were certain instances where Harry seems ‘tense’ with Meghan around compared to conducting engagements alone.
He claimed: “Their smiles are a bit cautious and they come across more stoic than usual here. At one point, we see a sudden shift in emotion from Meghan, and the mood is quite sombre, but they’re likely being careful not to exaggerate their emotions either way.” Reflecting on Harry’s comfort at recent events such as The Invictus Games, Darren added: “Harry has been quite relaxed in recent appearances, such as at The Invictus Games, where we’ve seen him on his own. [In this appearance] his face is red, his eyebrows are together, and he seems quite tense, which we can tell as his shoulders are up here. His facial expression is quite far removed from the Harry we’ve seen on his own in the past couple of months.”
