Prince Harry 'hinted 'all was not well' with family during 2017 interview'
The Duke of Sussex had hinted about his family rifts during an interview with his future wife back in 2017, a body language expert has claimed. Shortly after the announcement of their engagement in November 2017, Harry and Meghan sat down for their first TV interview, where the pair were asked about their relationship and Harry was quizzed on his family's reaction. Judi James, a body language expert, told Express.co.uk that the Duke of Sussex may have hinted about his family rifts during his interview with his future wife.
She said: "King Charles might have had his own excruciating 'Whatever in love means' moment during his own engagement interview, but when his name comes up during his son's engagement interview, Harry appears to provide a similarly telling hint of problems or a rift, only with his father and brother rather than his future wife Meghan. "The first sightings of any trouble between Harry and William was always said to be during their ill-fated 'Fab Four' interview where Harry was asked about any disagreements and paused as William gave a very emphatic 'Yes'. "But during Harry and Meghan's engagement interview, it is possible to see some almost identical body language from Harry and Meghan when Harry is asked what it was like telling his father and brother about his engagement."
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Meghan and Harry at a Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair back in 2017 (Getty Images)
Judi said the Duke and Duchess had very different body language signals when asked about Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
"When the late Queen was mentioned previously in the interview, Harry and Meghan's responses were instant, enthusiastic and warm," the expert said. "When Charles and William are brought up though, there was a long, telling and unnecessary pause with some complex non-verbal cues that suggest all was not well behind the scenes. "Until that point, Meghan had been fielding many of the questions with confidence but here she turns to Harry to inspect his face as though waiting for his lead, much as she did during the Fab Four interview."
Judi said how the Duke reacted with his body language - "fast blinks" before looking down, seems to express his true feelings. Judi expanded on how the Duke reacted with his body language signals after being asked about his father and brother. "He then looks to his side as though recalling the moment and his lips clamp rather than move in speech," she added.
"The 'Ah...' from Harry sounds telling, as though he is debating whether to tell all or not. He performs an asymmetric smile that suggests he could say more." Judi said Meghan's body language was equally telling.
"Meghan did a nervous giggle and Harry raised his brows. Harry even partly repeated the question, which, along with the pause, was a classic stalling for time," she said. "We then see two self-touch, part cut-off gestures as he scratches his face and rubs his mouth to suggest a desire to conceal."
Judi said Prince Harry made his awkwardness even more obvious by delaying his response. "The question itself could easily have been dismissed with a couple of polite words and a smile, but Harry seems to be struggling. "He ends up saying 'exciting' and Meghan looks down with the muscles working in her jaw to suggest some discomfort.
"Harry suddenly seems to latch onto Kate as a life-raft subject for an easier response. 'Catherine's been amazing' is said with some genuine enthusiasm and Meghan nods 'she's wonderful'.
"But Harry was asked about his father.
He uses a thumb-jerk gesture here, referring to 'teas' with a mouth grimace before switching again to his 'grandparents' with a much less complicated smile of love and approval."