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TL; DR: 

  • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s jubilee church service included paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton. 
  • The couples were seated on opposite sides of St. Paul’s Cathedral and had no public interaction.
  • A body language expert says Prince Harry seemed “anxious” while Prince William put up a “barrier” as he walked by his brother. 
  • As for Meghan Markle, she projected “calm” and “low-key” with a smile. 
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who an expert says had different body language at a church service, look on as they exit St. Paul's Cathedral
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Platinum Jubilee weekend has come and gone. But the celebrations — and the royal family interactions — are still being hashed out. A body language expert has taken a closer look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s service of thanksgiving appearance alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s jubilee service appearance included many royals

Jubilee weekend included all sorts of festivities. However, only one event served as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first joint public appearance in the UK since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020. 

After not standing on the balcony during Trooping the Colour, Harry and Meghan attended a jubilee service honoring Queen Elizabeth. They arrived at St. Paul’s Cathedral on June 3, 2022, with smiles on their faces before heading inside hand-in-hand. 

The queen didn’t attend due to feeling some “discomfort” after Trooping the Colour. However, Meghan, Harry, and plenty of other royals showed up to celebrate her. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were there along with Queen Elizabeth’s son, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles. 

Members of the extended royal family were also there such as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie among others.  

A body language expert says Prince Harry seemed ‘anxious’ and ‘haunted’ at a service of thanksgiving, occasionally looking to Meghan Markle for ‘support’

According to Judi James, a body language expert, Harry didn’t play it as cool as Meghan during the service. She told the UK’s Mirror Harry appeared at times to be subdued and anxious.” However, James also noted “odd moments of fun break-outs,” which, to her, “looked like another symptom of inner anxiety or tension.” 

James went on, saying Harry’s face suggested “relief” during various lighter moments. For instance, when he joked with Zara Tindall as he looked for his car following the service. And again when he flashed her a smile from the pews. 

“Otherwise he fell into a haunted eye expression with some rapid blinking to suggest inner anxiety, leaning in and down to Meghan when she spoke as though keen to get some support,” she explained. 

Prince William appeared to put up a ‘barrier’ as he walked by Prince Harry

Prince William looks on as he attends a jubilee church service honoring Queen Elizabeth II
Prince William | Samir Hussein/WireImage
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Although they didn’t sit next to each other, or even close by, James picked up on William’s body language as he exited St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Duke of Cambridge had to walk by Harry and Meghan, who sat on the other side of the church with Beatrice and Eugenie.

The body language expert said William gave the “opposite” of an acknowledgment as he walked by Harry’s row on his way out. “Sucking in his lips and with his chin pulled up in a gesture of resolve he appeared to turn his head in the other direction for a moment, raising his order of service high in a barrier gesture,” James explained. 

Meanwhile, Harry sat, looking “firmly resigned to the back row,” according to James. 

Meghan Markle projected ‘calm’ with her posture and smile

James also examined Meghan’s body language. She called it “as perfect as it could have been under difficult circumstances.” James noted her “upright” posture and smile gave off a “calm but low-key appearance.” 

Although some royal fans pointed out on Twitter, per the Mirror, how Meghan seemed to turn her head away from Kate as she made her way to her seat. 

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