The expert further highlighted Prince Harry’s apparent “contempt” for Meghan’s comments, observing that his face reddened as she performed the exaggerated bow.
The Sussexes sent shockwaves with the release of their tell-all Netflix series(Image: Netflix )
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have certainly split public opinion since stepping back from Royal duties in 2020, but arguably one of their most contentious moments occurred after their Netflix documentary series aired in 2022.
During the second instalment of the programme called Harry and Meghan, the duchess recounted her initial encounter with the late Queen, which happened shortly after she began her relationship with the prince in 2016.
Meghan revealed that she wasn’t ready for her introduction to the British sovereign and explained she had no idea she would be meeting the Queen until mere “moments before”.
“My grandmother was the first senior member of the family that Meghan met,” Harry explained. “She had no idea what it all consisted of. So it was a bit of a shock to the system for her.”
Meghan remembered that whilst they were travelling to meet the Queen, Prince Harry enquired whether she understood how to curtsy. “We were in the car, driving and he’s like: ‘You know how to curtsy right?’ and I just thought it was a joke,” the duchess confessed, reports the Mirror.
There was one moment that seemed to enrage Harry, according to a body language expert(Image: Getty)
Prince Harry then recognised the challenge of explaining the Royal protocol to his American partner, telling the camera: “How do you explain that to people? How do you explain that you bow to your grandmother? And that you would need to curtsy, especially to an American. That’s weird.”
Meghan Markle shared her experience of learning to curtsy to the Queen, likening it to the ‘Medieval Times, Dinner and Tournament’ – an American dinner theatre known for its medieval-style games such as jousting.
While seated next to Prince Harry in a coach, Meghan demonstrated a theatrical deep curtsy, dramatically bowing her head and extending her arms wide.
“It was like that. Like, I curtsied as though I was like…” Meghan continued, mimicking the gesture. “Pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”
However, this moment didn’t sit well with some viewers who perceived Meghan’s actions as disrespectful. Body language expert Jesús Enrique Rosas also suggested that Prince Harry appeared less than pleased.
Meghan shows off her deep bow and curtsy during the Netflix documentary as she admitted the whole experience of meeting the Queen for the first time was ‘so intense'(Image: Netflix)
Rosas noted at the time: “The first part of Harry’s reaction tells me that he knew what was coming. He is serious even if Meghan is speaking quickly, joyfully but there’s no connection, no empathy in him. He is serious and maybe even angry, notice what happens with his throat, he is swallowing at that moment.”
The expert further highlighted Prince Harry’s apparent “contempt” for Meghan’s comments, observing that his face reddened as she performed the exaggerated bow.
“He is looking at Meghan and he displays contempt. A split second after that, he looks away and presses his jaw,” the body language expert explained.
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“You can see the patches of red on his face are much redder – the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, the temples – it could be that he feels ashamed or angry.
“I’m going to tell you why this is covert anger and not [Harry being] ashamed. If he was ashamed, he would have smiled a bit more, or [had] a nervous laughter.
“But he knew what was coming and he couldn’t stand it – that he had that face at the beginning and had that subtle swallow right before Meghan did the curtsy.”