Kate is 'silently grief-stricken' by Queen's death whereas Meghan had 'pitch-perfect expression', says expert
LONDON, ENGLAND: Famous body language expert, Judi James has evaluated the behavior and body language of the royal family members. In a recent interaction with DailyMail, the former public relations professional claimed, "The Royal Family 'appeared as choreographed as flying geese for this appearance, walking in a very formal formation."
The Queen's coffin was transferred from Buckingham Palace to Westminister palace on Wednesday, September 14. Judie then went on to describe that the women of the Royal Family all showed their grief in different ways.
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She added that Kate, the Princess of Wales, appeared silently grief-stricken as she followed the coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall by car. According to the expert, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex "swallowed back tears." Judi then explained about Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. She described Meghan had adopted a 'pitch-perfect expression' throughout the ceremony.
She then added, "Meghan adopted the rather pitch-perfect expression of someone registering sadness and empathy for the family," She kept her head up and a polite but caring-looking part smile on her face, while her brows were asymmetrically steepled to register that empathy for the sadness around her."
It was a great moment to witness the 'fab four' reuniting for the last moments of Queen Elizabeth II, their grandmother who passed away at 96 on Thursday, September 8. Judi also noted that the formality of the occasion was only broken once that is when Prince Harry and his wife Meghan "held out their arms to hold hands as they filed out of the service behind William and Kate." She also added, "The gesture looked almost desperately necessary for them and they were the only couple to really acknowledge each other and fall out of formation. We saw how they are currently using this hand clasp as something of an emotional life-line."
She then explained, "Meghan was using it to gently rub Harry’s hand with her thumb in a gesture of reassurance at Windsor and the likelihood was that it was used as a mutual support system here today." Judi added, "There were very large spatial gaps between [the Royals], so no interaction of any kind, meaning they all appeared looking solitary and lost in reflection."
Judi also claimed, "Even the wives, who followed in their cars, seemed to be silent, both verbally and non-verbally. Kate sat beside Camilla in a pose of sadness and Sophie sat lost in grief-stricken reflection beside Meghan." Further, she said, "When Kate entered the palace hall she did appear to be as silently grief-stricken as Sophie, with some heavy swallowing, pursed lips and narrow-looking eyes suggesting she was close to tears."
She also stated, "There were no signs of socializing at all until they lined up to file out in couples. While the other royals sustained their air of silent formality, Harry and Meghan closed the gap between them."
The expert also opined, "Their arm and hand gestures suggested they couldn’t wait to be back in literal touch again and rather than wait until their torsos were touching before they clasped hands they stretched their arms out to return to their signature ritual of closeness and comfort."
Judi noted certain aspects about William and Harry, she said, "Both sustained something of a poker face as they walked, especially William, who was in full uniform. Harry’s body language was a little less formal and there was a moment when the coffin was lifted from the carriage that he performed a small shoulder-roll as though wishing he were helping to carry it himself." While talking about other family members, she suggested, "Andrew, standing alone and not in uniform, seemed to use his height to stand rigidly tall as though permanently to attention, with his raised chin and his mouth clamp and frown suggesting a desire to be seen as dutiful."
Whereas, "Anne still looked unable to keep her eyes from the coffin, as though watching and guarding her mother to the last moment." Further, she stated, "Charles was seen to perform one micro-gesture of utter grief when his mouth suddenly stretched sideways and his jaw fell open slightly."
The expert then said, 'She is almost unrecognizable in her grief, and her mouth remained clamped, her head tilted and her eyes gazing in a gesture of reflection. Meanwhile, this was "the first time we have seen Kate properly, "Ms James said. Kate's 'facial features suggested intense grief and a fighting back of tears. Regarding Sophie, she stated, "Her eyes looked narrowed as though she had been crying, and her lips were pursed in a gesture of self-control. Some deep swallowing suggested the tears might have been close, though."