Prince Harry was ‘wary and anxious’ as Meghan Markle opened up on ‘online bullying’, body language expert says
PRINCE Harry looked wary and anxious next to his wife in the Sussex’s latest interview, a top body language expert says.
The Duke of Sussex appeared cautious as he listened to Meghan Markle open up about her suicidal thoughts and “online bullying” when the pair spoke on the CBS Sunday Morning show.
Body language expert Judi James analysed today’s interview with Jane Pauley and says it showed Meghan looking “bleak” throughout with her trying to get reassurance from an anxious Harry.
Part of the new sit-down chat saw the pair reflect on their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 in which Meghan revealed her mental health struggles.
Oprah’s interview was played before the camera cut back to the Duke and Duchess.
Speaking to The Sun, Judi explains: “The clip from their infamous Oprah interview is shown, then back in the current interview we see Meghan’s change in body language dynamic.
“The polite, gracious, closed-lip smile is still in place but her eye expression suddenly looks bleak.
“Her hand goes onto Harry’s knee as though asking for support or gaining strength from this tactile reminder of his presence.”
The duchess spoke about her own struggles, after she shared her story in 2021 and told Oprah in the past she “didn’t want to be alive anymore”.
Judi continued to explain how Harry’s reaction was a surprising one with the Prince looking somewhat unreceptive of his wife.
She said: “Harry’s response looks wary and he keeps relatively still here.
“His hand doesn’t clasp hers in a reciprocal gesture, instead he performs some anxiety-prompted rubbing of the fingers and thumb in his own hand clasp.
“His head tilts in another expression or wariness and when Meghan speaks he watches her face closely.”
Following the interaction, Meghan continued to speak as she put on a brave face and powered through the interview.
Judi said: “Meghan performs a wry smile with clamped lips to suggest bravery and she lets out a small, mirthless laugh.
“Her eyelids flutter in what looks like a small burst of emotion and she performs three hair preen rituals that are either a partial cut-off or a desire to ensure her composure remains intact.”
Her wry smile of bravado then deepens as she talks, Judi added.
The exclusive interview continued to talk about their new project looking to help support parents who have lost a child to online harm.
The couple rolled out The Parents Network today, which connects families who have lost children to suicide after being victims of cyberbullying.
It also helps those who have been forced to say goodbye to their kids after they were sold laced drugs online.
Meghan was also seen beaming as she spoke about her children Archie, five, and three-year-old Lilibet.
The proud mum-of-two said: “Our kids are young, they’re three and five, they’re amazing.
“But all you want to do as parents is protect them.
“And so as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”
Jane Pauley highlighted how when children ask for help, people hope there is someone who can provide it.
Harry responded: “If you know how to help… At this point we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder.
“Even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide.
“That is the terrifying piece of this.”
The parents group will meet mainly online and help support parents who have lost children to suicide and online harm.
Harry and Meghan called for an urgent change to “keep our children safe” on social media in February this year.
The Sussexes had heard the “heartache” of parents amid the US Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing regarding online child safety.
The parents-of-two said that even the “best parenting in the world cannot keep children safe from these platforms”.
In a statement on their Archewell website, the couple said the issue transcended division and party lines and this is “not the time to pass the buck of responsibility”.
Alongside their message, the duke and duchess released a clip of their appearance at a World Mental Health Day discussion in New York on October 10 last year.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123