Meghan Markle took centre stage at a New York summit yesterday – leaving Prince Harry assuming the role of ‘spare’ once again, a body language expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex was said to have ‘directed camera attention’ towards his wife as she arrived in a Ralph Lauren suit at the Time 100 Summit in New York City.
During the event, Meghan opened up about giving herself ‘the space and the grace to make mistakes’ and also revealed her son Prince Archie’s first tooth is loose.
Upon their arrival earlier on, Harry chaperoned his wife from their private car as she walked in – before also being around to greet her at the end of her stint on stage.
While some might have considered Harry to be merely adopting the role of doting husband, body language expert Judi James has since pointed out ‘awkwardness’.
Ms James told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview: ‘Whether Harry’s leading or lurking here he appears to be in the role of ‘spare,’ displaying some awkward-looking body language poses while a more assured Meghan takes the starring role.’
Analysing their arrival, Ms James said: ‘By the time they’re arriving for the greetings it seems to be Meghan very much in the lead while Harry lurks behind. Meghan uses one key non-verbal cue or tell here to elevate her celebrity or star status.
‘While her arms are bent at a 45-degree angle, her hands adopt a ‘celebrity wilt’, dangling from her bent wrists. This is a gesture that suggests a form of specialness.
Meghan Markle arrives at the Time 100 Summit in New York City with Prince Harry yesterday
Prince Harry chaperoned his wife from their private car as she arrived at the venue in New York
After Meghan’s appearance at the event, the couple left via a side door, flanked by security
‘It’s also called the ‘broken wing’ gesture and although it suggests physical weakness or vulnerability it reflects status power as in ‘I don’t need my hands as I have people to open my doors and tow me along’.’
Ms James continued: ‘It’s Meghan who works the cameras here and instigates the gracious-looking hugs of friendship.
‘Harry waits his turn in a way that would have been unthinkable during his time in the royal family. His jacket hangs open and his expression is more intense and less radiant than his wife’s.’
Following Meghan’s appearance at the event, which also saw Ryan Reynolds take to the stage, the high-profile couple were spotted once again – this time leaving via a side door, flanked by security.
‘Harry is towing his wife alone in a classic celebrity pose,’ Ms James said.
‘His chest might be splayed but the way his knees are bent in a ‘frogs-leg’ position creates an air of awkwardness as he turns to look back in a checking gesture that directs camera attention to her, making hers look like the star arrival.
‘The next pose shows Harry still in that same awkward-looking pose but here his hands are at his side.
Meghan and Harry at the Time100 Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York yesterday
Meghan’s hands had a ‘celebrity wilt’, dangling from her bent wrists, according to an expert
The Duchess of Sussex attends the Time100 Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center yesterday
Meghan wore a Ralph Lauren silk-linen blazer worth £1,970 and £1,785 wide-leg trousers
‘His body language looks slightly off-script here as it’s Meghan having to eye-check his face while holding out her hand to re-establish the romantic gesture of the hand clasp.’
Meghan wore a Ralph Lauren silk-linen blazer worth £1,970 and £1,785 wide-leg trousers, which she paired with £650 Manolo Blahnik suede heels.
She also wore more than £35,000 of jewellery, including a £7,050 Cartier bangle and a pair of Tabayer gold hoop earrings worth £6,950.
The mother-of-two also had Princess Diana’s £21,400 gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch, inherited by Harry.
During the event, the Duchess revealed her Archie’s first tooth is loose, as his cousin Prince Louis was pictured with two missing front teeth.
Meghan said it had been an ‘incredibly busy’ time recently as she launched her Netflix show, new podcast and lifestyle brand As Ever – but being a mother gave her ‘perspective’.
The Duchess of Sussex was joined in New York City by Prince Harry, who wore a navy blue suit
Meghan wore Princess Diana’s £21,400 gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch, inherited by Harry
Meghan posed with Time chief executive Jessica Sibley at the event in New York yesterday
Time edditor-in-chief Sam Jacobs and Time chief executive Jessica Sibley with the couple
She added that Archie’s first tooth has come loose and she hoped she would be back home from the event before it came out.
It comes as the Prince and Princess of Wales shared an image of their son, Louis, to mark his birthday yesterday in which the young royal can be seen smiling with a gap for his two front teeth.
The Duchess said of her new ventures: ‘I think as a working mom, and again, these are three projects that we’re all launching really at the same time.
‘The behind the scenes for the past year and a half have been incredibly busy and ambitious.
‘But to see it all come to life and try to give yourself the space and the grace to make mistakes, to know that you’re not going to get it right every day, and at the same time to prioritise what we’re going to put out as our next tranche of skews is equally important to me as Archie losing his first tooth this week which is about to happen, and I just hope we’re back home in time for it – that it all matters.
‘And when you look at your life through that perspective, which frankly, being a parent gives you the most illuminating perspective, because what is seemingly so big, somehow becomes so microscopic in importance compared to what’s happening with your children.
The Duchess of Sussex speaks on stage during the Time 100 Summit in New York yesterday
Meghan speaks with Time chief executive Jessica Sibley yesterday at the event in New York
The Duchess opened up about giving herself ‘ the space and the grace to make mistakes’
Meghan appeared on stage during the Time 100 Summit in New York yesterday
‘That’s certainly how I feel, that you just make time to do it all and I think that’s what is hopeful, that’s what feels like the dream. ‘
Asked how she stayed ‘focused’ while being a high-profile individual who is under ‘scrutiny’, the duchess said she does not go online.
She continued: ‘I’ve made a very, very conscious effort to create boundaries for myself and for my mental health, for my wellbeing, and certainly to role model that as well for my children.
‘I’m conscious of not just raising a very strong and confident young woman, but also having a son, I think is just as paramount of importance for young men to be raised with a confidence and sense of self that is going to empower the women around them too.’
Asked what was ‘next’ for her, the duchess said: ‘I think obviously, focusing on our family and our children is most important.’
Meghan added that she wanted to continue to ‘uplift other female founders’ through new podcast Confessions Of A Female Founder, to expand her portfolio of investment into women-founded companies and to scale up her brand As Ever.