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Harry and Meghan looked like the picture of love as they received an award for their work in racial injustice and mental health, a body language expert has said.
The Prince had the look that he was on a ‘first date’ while everything about his wife showed she was ‘very much the A-lister’ as they picked up the Ripple of Hope Award last night.
The couple received the gong at a glitzy ceremony in New York and gave a speech about how they hope a ‘a ripple of hope can turn into a wave of change’ following their activism work.
Body language expert Judi James has looked at how the couple put on a ‘united’ front, as it is just one day away from the premiere of their Netflix docu-series.
Judi told Metro.co.uk: ‘Wearing a white, shoulder-baring sheath dress with her hair in the tightest of buns and with what is said to be Diana’s ring on her finger, Meghan simple-statement outfit made her look almost like a bride for this event, while Harry’s body language had more than a touch of the date night about it.’
‘He could have been a man on a first date, hovering around Meghan’s car door with umbrella in hand to keep her dry and then sitting at dinner with his arm around her shoulder to signal love, pride and a desire to project the ongoing romance of their relationship.’
This was fitting with what Prince Harry spoke about, as he joked he thought he was taking his wife on a ‘date night’.
Speaking onstage with RFKHR president Kerry Kennedy, Harry said: ‘I’ll be honest with you Kerry I just thought we were just going on a date night so I found it quite weird that we’re sharing the room with 1500 people.
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‘We don’t get out much these days because our kids are so small and young so, this is completely unexpected.’
To laughter from the audience he added: ‘But it’s nice to share date night with all of you, so thank you for coming.’
Meghan added: ‘Thank you for bringing me on this very special date night.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Harry said.
Seated alongside Meghan onstage, Harry discussed the importance of storytelling, saying ‘ultimately we live in this world now where sharing experiences and sharing stories has an enormous impact,’ adding it was important to undertake ‘if you are in a position of influence, leadership, or otherwise.’
Judi said while the couple were on the red carpet posing for photos ahead of the bash their hand holding was a sign of ‘intense closeness’ as he clasped her hand so hard his ‘knuckles whitened’.
She said: ‘When they held hands on the red carpet he either entwined their fingers in the clasp to signal intense closeness and bonding or he contained her hand with his so tightly his knuckles whitened.
‘The hand hold is still very much a signature move for this couple and on the red carpet Harry even pulled her hand forward in the clasp to feature it and her ring for the cameras as she topped his hand with her free hand in a re-enforcement gesture in a doubling of the idea of a united couple.’
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MORE : Meghan and Harry want to ‘inspire next generation’ as they receive human rights award
She added: ‘Meghan also performed this reinforcement gesture to add to the sense of romantic validation when Harry’s arm was around her shoulders at the meal.
‘Meghan’s rituals presented her as very much the A-lister and it was her name the press called out as emerged from the car while Harry just danced attendance.
‘Meghan swept into the venue first in full celebrity splendour, ignoring the umbrella and looking eager to greet the hosts.’
After receiving an award the couple gave a talk to guests and chatted on stage. Judi said that Harry displayed his ‘alpha confidence’ during the chat, due to his leg and arm positions.
She said: ‘Their interview on stage looks very much like Harry’s moment though. He sits with his knees splayed in a gesture of alpha confidence and even adds to this idea of cocky confidence by placing one hand on his thigh with the elbow stuck out in a partial splay of power.’
‘Harry is grinning ear to ear during this outing, appearing to adore the attention which is not just coming from the audience.
‘Meghan gazes at him adoringly on the stage and when he appears to crack a joke she doubles in laughter with her mouth near the mic to presumably add to the sound of laughter.
‘The couples’ facial expressions look excited and delighted here, almost as though they are at some kind of confidence and achievement peak.
‘Harry’s previous wary and haunted eye expression is gone and his face is wreathed in smiles even though a micro upward nod of the head does seem to signal an end to some of the press photos when he poses with his hosts on the red carpet.’
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