Bruce Durham, psychologist and body language expert, spoke about how the Duchess of Sussex’s choice of footwear was inappropriate for the terrain in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He also suggested that the trip meant more to Harry due to his military service, and that Meghan did her best to support her husband during the emotional moment. The couple have been criticised for hiring a private photographer for the event, which led to some experts decrying the service as a “PR stunt”.
Mr Durham told the Daily Mirror Meghan was making a “huge amount of effort” appearing at the cemetery with Harry due to her thin heels.
“If you look at the photo if you look at the two of them standing before the wreath – just look at how thin Meghan’s heels are.
“Then switch to the photo of them in the middle of a huge grass field – you know for a fact those heels are going to be causing chaos the moment she steps on the grass so she has killed herself trying to get into that position so far into the field for that shot. (…)
“You simply could not get into the middle of a grass field without those heels going in the turf so as every other woman globally would know – she has put a huge amount of effort in to get that picture – just look at the amount of grass she has covered to get there.”
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The body language experts then detailed how Harry was visibly touched by the moment, whereas Meghan was consoling and supportive.
He added, citing Harry’s furrowed brow and bowed head: “This is a clear sign that a part of the brain called the hippocampus is engaged here as he is recalling his own emotional military memories and experiences while looking at the graves – this is etched on his face.
“Compare this with Meghan’s slight head ‘bewilderment tilt’ – she has no experience of this so, naturally, she is looking at this experience unable to relate to it, which is why the head is tilted.
“She is more curious than in tune with the event. Again, this is not a negative, more what any wife may feel if accompanying her military partner to such an event.”
The images of Harry and Meghan drew controversy after it was revealed they hired Lee Morgan, a private photographer, to snap the couple as they paid their respects.
Piers Morgan, Good Morning Britain host, has led the charge against the Sussex royals, frequently blasting the images.
On GMB, he said the images made clear the Los Angeles service was a “distasteful PR stunt” that “stuck in his gullet”.
Co-host Susanna Reid rubbished Mr Morgan’s claims however, and added: “Why wouldn’t he want to show his respect when he has such a strong connection?”
Harry reportedly requested a poppy wreath be laid at the Cenotaph in his absence on Remembrance Sunday.
But courtiers in the Royal Family were said to have rejected his request, due to him no longer being a working royal.
The Duke was said to be “deeply saddened” by the snub, per a report in The Times which added Queen Elizabeth II was not aware of her grandsons request.
Harry served in the Armed Forces for 10 years, doing two tours of Afghanistan and rising to the rank of Captain.
