As her first major event on behalf of the Royal Family, the spotlight was shining firmly on the former actress.
Just a month before the royal wedding, Meghan Markle joined Prince Harry to meet youth delegates taking part in the high-profile Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.
It marked an important step in introducing Harry’s bride-to-be to the world stage and came as a surprise to royal observers, as it is unusual for someone who has not yet married into the Royal Family to be involved in such a high-profile occasion.
But according to body language expert Judi James, the couple’s dynamic showed ‘green shoots of Meghan inducting Harry into the etiquette of non-royal life’.
One moment in particular showed Meghan attempting to walk in front of Harry, which goes against royal protocol.
Harry also takes a step forward to shake hands with a man opposite him, causing the two to bump into each other.
The Prince promptly stepped back, before apologising and allowing Meghan to take the lead.
Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail: ‘At the time this seemed like nothing more than a small body language reset for Harry, who had taken protocol as the norm all his life but who had chosen a US actress and self-proclaimed feminist as his wife, suggesting a desire for change.
Just a month before the royal wedding, Meghan Markle joined Prince Harry to meet youth delegates taking part in the high-profile Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London
According to body language expert Judi James, the couple’s dynamic showed ‘green shoots of Meghan inducting Harry into the etiquette of non-royal life’
The event marked an important step in introducing Harry’s bride-to-be to the world stage and came as a surprise to royal observers, as it is unusual for someone who has not yet married into the Royal Family to be involved in such a high-profile occasion
‘Harry had been the star of his own show for decades, and his personal brand was about military strength and daring laced with a cheeky sense of humour.
‘The traditional royal role would be for him to induct his bride into the complicated and archaic choreography of royal life, but what we saw here was the green shoots of Meghan inducting Harry into the etiquette of non-royal life.’
At the time, etiquette expert William Hanson said: ‘From a protocol point of view, Harry should have gone first as Meghan is the consort.
‘But from a chivalry point of view, it is always preferable to let your spouse or girlfriend go first. So he wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t right either.’
Judi continued: ‘Even in these few moments of prancing wobbles and redirection, we can see Meghan’s social confidence glow while Harry’s insecurities rise closer to the surface.
‘He is the one having to learn to synchronise with another person. Meghan has already been married, and her TV career will have allowed her to know all about moving smoothly and competently with someone else by her side, either on set or in real life.
‘When there’s a misstep, it’s Harry who leaps into correction mode, while Meghan always sees her movements through to the end.
‘Her trait of mirroring Harry’s animated gesticulation on two occasions here shows she is taking some cues from him in terms of royal chats, but she seems to pick up on his emphatic and illustrated gesticulation to ensure he doesn’t upstage her socially.
A screengrab from the video clip shows the moment before Harry and Meghan both step forward to shake hands with a man opposite them
The split-second moment shows, according to the body language expert, Meghan’s social confidence glow while Harry’s insecurities rise closer to the surface
The Prince can be seen promptly stepping back, before apologising and allowing Meghan to take the lead
‘Once she has a group’s attention, we can see her very naturally and elegantly retain it.
‘At that point, Harry even stands back and puts one hand in his pocket as he sees her natural ability and charisma begin to kick in.’
Coming off the back of her role as Rachel Zane in Suits, Meghan was used to the spotlight.
Judi continued: ‘When they say farewell to the first group, Meghan moves in closer than Harry to display her talent for more immersive chats.
‘Harry moves towards the man at the end of the line but it’s he who notices that would put him ahead of Meghan and instead he hops back obediently to follow her round instead, even miming a crossing movement with his arms and raising a finger in what looks like a mock telling off to apparently make a joke about avoiding any clashing.
‘Harry seems to show signs of anxiety in some of the close-ups here.
‘His blink rate is rapid, and he shows his tongue between his teeth and his lips. As he walks to the second group, he even clasps his left wrist in his right hand as though unsure about how and when to shake hands.
‘It’s Meghan who takes the decision for him now, bending her knees to duck in and step quietly in front to get in first with the second group.
At the time, etiquette expert William Hanson said: ‘From a protocol point of view, Harry should have gone first as Meghan is the consort’
Judi said: ‘When there’s a misstep, it’s Harry who leaps into correction mode, while Meghan always sees her movements through to the end’
The body language expert continued: ‘Meghan’s group chat here shows her early skills in terms of earning attention and genuine interest’
Meghan is pictured shaking hands with delegates at the reception for the Commonwealth Youth Forum
‘Harry makes a similar decision, possibly based on protocol-led assumption but he is given what looks like a swift example of modern etiquette as Meghan puts a splayed hand out in a non-verbal tie-sign to stop him.
‘Harry dutifully steps back to usher Meghan through, using a rather old-fashioned gallant steering gesture to do so.
‘She finishes chatting to the group first and waits for him and as he spots her he seems to speed up his greetings to avoid leaving her standing.
‘Meghan’s group chat here shows her early skills in terms of earning attention and genuine interest.
‘Her raised brows signal engagement and authority: this is the gesture of someone you would listen to, and her animated gestures show interest and engagement rather than small talk.’
A similar dynamic occurred in July 2018 when Harry and Meghan undertook a two-day visit to Dublin, shortly after their wedding.
Judi told the Daily Mail: ‘Meghan and Harry’s first overseas visit soon after their wedding was a relatively “soft” one, but this trip still provided a clear showcase for their body language dynamic as a royal couple.
‘When it comes to analysing their choreography and their power signals, hindsight really is a strong benefit here because at the time we were led by assumption.
At the event, the bride-to-be takes the lead, which reflects a pattern later emerging in Harry and Meghan’s relationship dynamic
Meghan is pictured as Rachel Zane in the Netflix series Suits
Even before Meghan officially became a Duchess, Harry – pictured earlier this year – allowed his wife to take centre stage at events while he followed her lead
‘We assumed we were seeing new bride Meghan nervously learning the ropes, being ushered and protected by her confident and experienced new husband.
‘But in fact, looking at the less than subtle signals now, the opposite appears to have been true.’
As recently as April this year, Meghan took centre stage at the Time 100 Summit in New York, leaving Harry to assume the role of ‘spare’.
While some considered Harry to be merely adopting the role of doting husband, the body language expert told the Daily Mail that Harry was displaying some ‘awkward-looking body language poses while a more assured Meghan takes the starring role’.
Meghan’s half-brother, Tom Junior, told the Express that his sister was ‘always the centre of attention, so that never stopped’, adding that she has ‘star quality’.
It is clear to see that Meghan is most at ease in the spotlight and performing on stage.
This translates into their body language dynamic, meaning even before she officially became a Duchess, Harry allowed his wife to take centre stage at events while he followed her lead.
