Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle‘s trip to Australia was making headlines before it even began.
Australians had started a petition before the Sussexes touched down because the country’s taxpayers were against having to shoulder some of the cost for the non-working royals’ private security. It garnered over 40,000 signatures, but Harry and Meghan were determined to make the trip as many PR reps said they needed to do so to get some goodwill with the public and shore up their brand. They also weren’t going to give up a payday as Meghan filmed a guest spot on MasterChef, and both the duke and duchess booked speaking events with high-ticket prices.
Another stop on their trip was visiting advocates during a mental health engagement program at Swinburne University of Technology. While there, Meghan made a claim that an expert says shows she was fishing for something else when she said that for the last 10 years, she was “the most trolled person in the entire world, man or woman.”
On Meghan discussing online trolling
Inbaal Honigman is a celebrity psychic and body language expert who has been reading Tarot since the ’90s. She has appeared in the media for more than 20 years, offering her expertise and predictions for several outlets, including Big Brother’s Little Brother, Elle Magazine, and talkSPORT radio, to name a few.
Speaking on behalf of Casino.ca, Honigman told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “When Meghan explains how badly she was trolled, there are some inconsistencies in her body language that could be interpreted as insincerity. Her shoulders are rolled forward, which suggests she is making herself appear smaller, perhaps to seem more vulnerable and relatable.”
The expert continued, “Her eyebrows are raised into a triangular shape, an expression often associated with empathy, while her furrowed brow conveys concern. Together, these cues signal to the audience that she is sharing something upsetting. The inconsistency lies in her eye behavior.
“She maintains strong eye contact with her listeners, as though checking whether they are engaged, relating to her, and accepting her account. This, coupled with a slight smile, suggests she is not only recounting her experience, but also seeking a particular response. Meghan appears to be honest, but with a clear intention of eliciting sympathy and support.”
On her ‘MasterChef’ appearance
Honigman also analyzed the sneak peek of Meghan’s guest appearance on Australia’s MasterChef.
“Meghan’s facial expression as she walks onto the MasterChef stage is one of restrained jubilation,” Honigman observed. “She is clearly proud and thrilled, but quickly attempts to rein this in. Perhaps in an effort to appear more reserved and relatable, she closes her lips, reducing the size of her smile.
“However, the attempt is not entirely successful. The closed lips briefly form a smirk, which similarly undercuts any attempt at humility. Her chin then drops slightly, suggesting she may have let out a small, involuntary laugh as her excitement surfaces.”
On the duke and duchess’s relationship dynamic during Aussie visit
According to Honigman, Prince Harry is trying to appear as the more dominant one in the relationship on this particular trip.
She noted that “Harry appears to act as a stabilizing presence in the relationship. As Meghan steps out of the car, she briefly throws her hands outward, suggesting a momentary loss of balance. Harry immediately reaches toward her; his stance is grounded, with both feet firmly planted and his posture is strong and confident.
“He extends his hand with the palm facing downwards, a gesture often associated with control. His positioning suggests readiness to cover her hand with his, reinforcing the impression of him as the more dominant partner in that moment. Harry’s hand placed over Meghan’s as they walk further reinforces the impression of him taking the lead.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.