Meghan Markle betrayed “inner anxiety” as she awkwardly greeted the crowd at a memorial for the late Queen Elizabeth II, a TV body language expert tells Page Six exclusively.
“Meghan looked like a woman waiting for her cues rather than pushing herself forward,” Judi James says of the former actress.
Markle joined her husband, Prince Harry, along with Prince William and Kate Middleton, on Saturday to greet well-wishers who gathered outside Windsor Castle in England to pay their respects to the Queen, who died last Thursday at the age of 96.
The foursome, whom the British press once dubbed the “Fab Four,” spent nearly an hour admiring floral tributes, reading cards and shaking hands with fellow mourners.
James tells us that Markle’s “frequent hair flicking” during the walkabout “suggested some inner anxiety.”
Another body language expert, Dr. Lillian Glass, explains that Markle’s subdued behavior may have been precipitated by fear, as the “Suits” alum was booed the last time she was in the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
“Usually, we have seen Meghan with a smile plastered on her face, whether it is appropriate or not,” Glass tells Page Six.
“But this time, she actually seemed more genuine and humbled. There is no question that she was in fear, as she hung on to Harry’s hand for dear life as they walked together. She was serious and even stood back when Harry was speaking to someone. Usually, she is front and center, but the fact that she hung back was very telling of her fear.”
Although the “Archetypes” podcast host was not booed this time around, she did receive a mixed reaction from the crowd.
Some refused to shake her hand, while a teenager proffered a hug. The 14-year-old told reporters that it was “the right thing to do” amid “everything that’s happened” between Markle and the royal family.
James notes that the physical touching between Harry, 37, and Markle, 41, could have been an effort to support each other.
“Harry placed an arm around her and rubbed her back to signal reassurance, but then it was Meghan offering the comforting touches as her husband looked at the flowers and worked the crowd,” she tells us. “The couple used a hand clasp to add to the comfort signals, with Meghan stroking Harry’s hand with her thumb within the clasp.”
In contrast, William and Middleton, both 40 and now known as the Prince and Princess of Wales, kept their distance from each other, which was duly dissected on social media.
“William and Kate rarely touch in public and only seem to hold hands when they are out of the public eye,” the UK-born James explains. “This is partly to do with tradition, and as the future king and queen, they need to be seen as two individual royals rather than just as a touch-bonded couple like Harry and Meghan.
“It is also a practical move, as to keep parting to shake hands with hosts and the public would become boring. They tend to present as the royal power couple instead, with their arms hanging down by their sides in a gesture of confidence and inclusion.”
Both body language analysts agree that it appeared Middleton had not mended fences with her sister-in-law, whom the Duchess of Sussex previously accused of making her cry at a bridesmaid’s dress fitting before her May 2018 wedding to Harry.
“While William was a bit more cordial, he was still serious around [Meghan] and didn’t show his usual megawatt smile. Kate even refused to even look at Meghan or in her direction,” Glass notes. “She was being genuine. It was not in her heart to smile at Meghan, so she didn’t do it.
“Meghan, on the other hand, looked like a sad and desperate puppy as she tried to catch Kate’s eye gaze repeatedly. But Kate was having none of it.”
James echoes that Middleton “appeared to be less keen to perform for the cameras,” adding, “Walking away from Meghan and the car, she went to join the brothers before keeping a wide social space between herself and the others, looking keen to get on with the job rather than perform in any soap opera.”
As Page Six reported, William extended the invitation to his estranged brother and sister-in-law to join him on the walkabout.
“We are all very grateful — both sides putting all things aside for the Queen,” a royal source told us exclusively.
While Markle has yet to speak out about the Queen’s death, Harry released a heartfelt statement on Monday that read in part, “You are already dearly missed.”
The Queen’s coffin traveled on Tuesday from Scotland, where she died, to her native England. Her funeral is scheduled for next Monday at Westminster Abbey in London.
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