Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared to share an uncomfortable moment during their first overseas royal tour in 2018—one that body language experts say revealed far more than the couple intended.
As the newlyweds touched down at Nausori Airport in Fiji, cameras captured Meghan, then 44, seemingly reaching for Harry’s hand. But instead of slowing down, the Duke of Sussex kept moving forward, leaving the Duchess trailing just behind him. Meghan tried again—yet Harry continued ahead, either missing her cue or deliberately sticking to royal protocol.
According to body language expert Judi James, this brief exchange told a bigger story. Speaking at the time, she suggested Harry looked visibly conflicted—caught between his lifelong royal training and the instincts of a newly married husband.
“Harry sticks to the protocol of status by walking first here,” James explained, “but he also twists his right arm awkwardly behind his back to hold her hand.” The result? What she described as an “awkward moment” filled with “divided loyalties” and “conflicting priorities.”
James added that Meghan appeared eager to subtly rewrite royal rules, while Harry struggled to balance duty with devotion—an internal tug-of-war playing out in real time.
Despite the raised eyebrows, public affection has never been unusual for the Sussexes. From holding hands at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017, to embracing during their engagement announcement at Kensington Palace, the couple have consistently shown a more modern, tactile approach to royal life.
Their wedding in May 2018 only reinforced that image, with a televised kiss outside St George’s Chapel that melted hearts worldwide. Since then, they’ve been photographed sharing affectionate moments at polo matches, Invictus Games events, and even during official royal visits—Harry’s hand on Meghan’s knee in Sydney, arms linked in Australia, and hands clasped in New Zealand.
Even after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to North America, the pair maintained that closeness. When they returned to the UK in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s service of thanksgiving, they were again seen holding hands as they arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral.
More recently, Harry and Meghan have leaned into sharing intimate glimpses of their relationship—whether through their Netflix series Harry & Meghan or carefully curated Instagram moments. This Valentine’s Day, Meghan posted a photo of the couple kissing, writing: “My love, I will eat burgers & fries and fish & chips with you forever. Thank you for you.”
But looking back, some royal watchers now see that fleeting Fiji moment as an early hint of the tension to come—a prince caught between centuries-old tradition and a new kind of love.
