Royal family
A body language expert is pointing out how nervous the Duke of Sussex was on his wedding day and when he finally was able to calm down a bit.
One of the best days of a person’s life is their wedding day. It can also be one of the most nerve-wrecking, especially when you’re a British prince and Hollywood actress who happen to be getting married with millions of people watching.
However, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said I do the former Suits star wasn’t nervous at all, although the same can’t be said for her husband.
Here’s what a couple of body language experts noticed the duke doing that showed he was a ball of nerves on his wedding day, and what finally calmed him down.
Body language expert says Prince Harry could not control his nerves at the altar
Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and TV as a consultant and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.”
Just before Harry and Meghan celebrated their wedding anniversary, Stanton looked back at the footage from their wedding day and pointed out just how nervous the prince was standing at the altar in St. George’s Chapel, and only one thing calmed him down.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, Stanton told Showbiz Cheat Sheet: “Meghan Markle appeared calm and composed, showing no visible signs of apprehension. She smiled and waved to the crowd, and walked with a steady presence. Her facial expressions were relaxed and natural. She’s smiling and there’s no excessive blink rate to indicate nerves.
“You can tell the enormity of the day was weighing heavily on Harry. He displayed clear signs of nerves, with his eyebrows pulled together, his eyes wide, and his body tense.”
According to Stanton, it wasn’t until Harry finally saw his bride that his nerves started to simmer down a bit.
“You can see Harry’s entire body visibly relax the moment he sees Meghan walking down the aisle,” Stanton observed. “The emotional shift in his posture is immediate, as his shoulders drop, his face softens, and his eyes light up with genuine love and affection. His tension melts away, and that shows just how deeply grounded and comforted he feels in her presence. Much like Kate has been for William and Camilla for Charles, Meghan clearly serves as Harry’s rock.”
Another expert agrees Meghan appeared confident that day
Another behavior expert agreed that Meghan did not share those wedding-day jitters with her husband.
“Like many extrovert guys who are normally the life and soul of any party, Harry’s body language on his own big day suggested a man shocked and overwhelmed by the strength of his own emotions,” body language expert and author Judi James said per Harper’s Bazaar.
She noted that his fleeting smiles, hand-wringing, glove-fiddling, coat-tugging, and occasional lip-licking were also clues of Harry’s pre-wedding anxiety. James added that his bride, on the other hand, didn’t show those same jitters, saying: “Besides the doe-eyed Disney princess gaze she kept flashing at Harry, [Meghan’s] body was free of ‘leakage’ signs and fidgeting that indicate anxiety.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
