Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing accusations of staging their photos during a recent baseball game in Los Angeles, with body language experts suggesting the couple deliberately played up their public displays of affection for the cameras.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the game from VIP seats on Tuesday night, where they were seen smiling, chatting, and leaning into each other throughout the evening. While fans praised the pair for appearing relaxed and affectionate, some observers claim the couple’s behavior seemed overly rehearsed.
Body language expert Jennie Bond told The Mirror that Meghan appeared conscious of the cameras throughout the event. “Meghan clearly slides over to cosy up to her husband for specific photos, curling in to register high levels of affection. There are hints that the pair were very aware of their visual image here, though,” Bond said.
She noted that the couple seemed to alternate between intimate moments and more serious poses. “In one pose, they appear to be engrossed in the game, with Meghan’s fingers up over her mouth and both staring ahead,” she explained. “The people behind them show contradictory poses, though, appearing to be chatting and milling around as though this is not a defining moment on the pitch.
The couple might have been watching the big screen, though, to see if their images went up to judge the reception of the fans here.” Bond added that Harry and Meghan appeared to position themselves prominently for maximum attention.
“While many celebrities prefer to watch their sport in virtual anonymity from the back rows, Harry and Meghan preferred to enjoy as high a profile as possible by sitting in the front row here, ahead of iconic stars of the game who were seated behind them, making themselves human catnip for camera attention on this baseball ‘date night’ in LA.”
Another expert, Judi James, noted that the pair’s body language shifted throughout the night. “Their body language fluctuated,” she said. “At times they sat unsmiling and even showing some signs of inner tension with Harry clutching at his little finger while Meghan delivered a ‘broken wing’ gesture, clutching her neck or her necklaces with a raised hand and a bent wrist in an elegant, regal-looking gesture of specialness.”
The couple, who have largely stepped back from public royal duties, continue to draw intense scrutiny whenever they appear in public. Their Los Angeles outing was no exception, sparking yet another debate over whether the Sussexes are seeking privacy or attention.