A body language expert has interpreted a tense moment between Princess Kate and Meghan Markle, pointing out William’s act of protection to separate the ‘feuding’ women
A body language expert has decoded a tense moment between the Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle, and thrown light on Prince William’s supposed act of protection for his wife. The dramatic moment occurred back in 2018, two years before Prince Harry and Meghan quit their royal duties and relocated to America.
Despite being a united front on the surface, and often being dubbed the Fab Four, an awkward moment inside Westminster Abbey seemed to show cracks forming between the senior royals long before the Sussexes bid farewell to their royal life. The situation occurred in July 2018, as the late Queen led a tribute to celebrate 100 years of the Royal Air Force.
More than 2,200 people attended the ceremony inside Westminster Abbey, with senior royals then meeting veterans, personnel, charity representatives and members of the civil service, before returning to Buckingham Palace for a flypast of 100 planes.
As Kate and Meghan stood in the Abbey and prepared to greet the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, William stepped in between them, with body language expert Judi James describing the Prince of Wales as a “human shield” in the moment.
There have long been claims that long before Harry and Meghan left the royal family for a new life abroad, the relationship between Kate and Meghan was growing increasingly strained, as James said is only solidified with this tense moment.
James told The Mail : “Superficially, and with the benefit of hindsight, now that we know about the tricky relationship between Meghan and Kate, this looks very much like a devoted and protective husband strategically and very pointedly stepping between his wife and her nemesis in the form of a human shield.
“William’s body language shows he is clearly aware that Harry and Meghan have honed into position behind him and he immediately ducks his head to move to stand next to his wife, even sucking his lips inward in what is often a signal of regret.”
While the body language expert shared her thoughts on the potentially awkward situation, she also explained the moment from another point of view, and clarified that William’s positioning may have been a way of helping to welcome Meghan into the Firm.
Judi said: “There is a spatial gap between William and Meghan that doesn’t really show at this angle. When the royals greet their hosts at services like this, there is something of a royal queue with gaps that can turn into a log jam if a royal keeps chatting, as Kate often can.
“Meghan was new to the royal Firm and William’s body language to this point had shown him being friendly and welcoming. This movement and change of position could be the kind of adjustment you make to the position of a group at a party when someone new comes to join in.
“It is rude to keep your back to the newcomer as it is a sign of rejection. So, we often shuffle to ensure we encompass the new arrival. Meghan would not have been allowed to join William and Kate here as the pecking order is firm, but it would be completely conceivable for a very polite William to move in to place to ensure his back is not turned against her as she arrived behind him.”
“It is conceivable that William was trying to be polite to Meghan here, although it is also equally conceivable that he might turn himself into something of a buffer between the two women as he did so if he was aware of any friction.”