Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first joint appearance in two months as they shared a video message about the importance of child protection online at a UN conference in Colombia
Harry and Meghan address online safety in new joint appearance
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a clear move to show a “united front” in their first joint video appearance in two months.
After months of speculation about living separate lives and fending off rumours of a split, all eyes were on Harry and Meghan as they appeared together in an online video to deliver a sincere message message on child protection at a UN conference in Colombia.
In the clip, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who fled royal life and moved to California in June 2020, stood side by side, gazing intently into the camera.
Their demeanour has been described as “emotionally reserved” but one deliberate move showed the royal pair are feeling the pressure to show they are united.
Body language expert Adrianne Carter said: “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 video, Meghan looked chic with her hair cascading over her shoulders and sporting a crisp navy blazer, while Harry complemented her style with a smart shirt and jacket combo. The parents of Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, also each wore a poppy to mark Remembrance Sunday.
Adrianne further noted that Meghan and Harry, 40 – last seen leaving Tyler Perry’s glitzy 55th birthday bash in Montecito on Sept. 14 – opted for “conservative” clothing choices deliberately.
She told OK!: “Choosing navy, a warm yet conservative colour, indicates they aim to project a formal and traditional appearance.”
In their heartfelt speech at the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children, Harry underscored the critical need for effective child protection measures, emphasizing the importance of action in light of increased awareness. He stated: “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, 43, then chimed in: “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.”
Although the couple has been praised for leveraging their public stature to highlight important issues, Meghan and Harry had been seen only on individual engagements since their attention-grabbing royal-style tour in August.
Despite the former ‘Suits’ actress once describing them as inseparable as “salt and pepper”, body language expert Adrianne suggests that Meghan’s demeanour during their first joint appearance might be quite 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,” Adrianne claimed.
The couple’s public appearance reinforced their dedication to addressing digital safety and children’s well-being, something Harry advocated for during his solo trip to New York in September.
However, their joint outing has sparked speculation among experts about their body language, including Darren Stanton. Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, he highlighted moments where Harry seems noticeably more ‘tense’ when Meghan is present, compared to when he is working alone.
Darren said: “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.
“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.”
