15 February 2024 , 12:55
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle flew to Canada in a private jet and hit the slopes as they joined in with the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025's One Year to Go celebrations.
The couple were seen joining in with athletes, with Harry even trying out some adaptive skis. The trip seems to be a nice escape for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they received an intense backlash for their website relaunch, with a source suggesting Buckingham Palace aren't happy with the couple's move.
Body language expert Judi James said Meghan seemed to be acutely aware of all the attention they were getting as they hit the slopes. In a video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Meghan was seen being given a phone by one bystander to take a snap of Harry. Judi suggested Meghan was trying to show she's a "good sport", despite being focused on the paparazzi.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry seemed to have a great time at the Winter Training Camp (Getty Images)She told The Mirror: "Meghan appears to have been asked to take a photo on a man’s phone here and she responds in a way that suggests a blend of signals of being a good sport and a sense of awareness that she is herself on camera during the transaction. Her body language becomes cute and slightly tentative as she takes the camera and turns to photograph her husband.
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"Her smile looks more of a tentative giggle. Nothing about her ritual suggests normal snapshot behaviour, making her look almost as though this is the first time she’s taken a pic. There’s no examining the image, waiting for the right moment and then that repeat snapping from better angles that we all do when we see the first pic could be better."
Fans had suggested Meghan borrowed the camera so she could take a picture of Harry to later show their children. However, Judi said Meghan's body language suggests she was simply taking a picture from an onlooker. "The way she just hands the camera back suggests this photo was for the man who owned the camera, not Meghan. She also performs one of her affirmation arm touches on the man after she hands back the camera, placing on flattened hand on his upper arm in a ‘you’re welcome’ gesture that is usually a response to a 'thank you'."
As Harry tried out the adaptive skis, Meghan watched on. Judi suggested the Duchess of Sussex was using "hand touch rituals to register fond encouragement".
The couple put on a united front (Getty Images)She added: "The couple seem to be at their tactile best here, with Meghan even using her signature gesture of placing one flattened hand on Harry's back as he chats to competitors, apparently to remind him of her presence; encourage and endorse his activity and perhaps to let him know it's a double act and she's waiting her turn. Meghan's smiles suggest a similar carefree enjoyment that the royal smiles signalled during the holidays at Kloisters.
"She strides out to register enthusiasm and even excitement on arrival and her self-touch and touch behaviours suggest a desire to bond and create rapport as well as provide some attractive photos." In one snap, Meghan was even seen waving to the paparazzi. Judi told us: "Her hand reaches out to touch the cameraman in a bonding affirmation gesture and then there is the sweet, youthful hand-to-mouth gesture as she laughs, making her laugh look like a giggle."
Meghan and Harry's latest trip comes after they launched a brand new website. The Sussexes launched Sussex.com earlier this week, with the website following on from the launch of their SussexRoyal.com website in 2020.
Some critics have suggested Meghan and Harry's new move has risked provoking "complaints from the Palace." One source told the Daily Mail: "They are going to have real trouble with the use of Sussex. It is a royal title and if there is any hint of commercialism about this it will be shut down. It's just staggering they cannot see how gauche it is."
Harry tried out some adaptive skis (Getty Images)
Meghan seemed at home in front of the cameras (WireImage)The trip also comes after King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, with the Princess of Wales also recently spending time in hospital for abdominal surgery. Judi said Harry and Meghan's Canada visit seems "terribly poignant" amid the Royal Family health woes.
She told us: "It was the royal skiing holiday that always provided the annual photo call for royals like Charles, Diana and their sons, who treated fans to some of the warmest PDAs of the year, looking relaxed as they posed for the cameras, creating some iconic, enduring images. These poses then, almost hint at a sense of continuity in terms of the royals. Harry is busy trying out the adaptive skis while Meghan squats to pose with him, using hand touch rituals to register fond encouragement."
She also said there seems to be plenty of parallels between Harry and Meghan's current trip and their visit to Toronto in 2017 for the Invictus Games. The couple only had eyes for each other as they debuted their romance at a game of wheelchair tennis seven years ago.
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Judi told us: "Very little has changed in the couple’s superficial body language since Meghan’s first arrival with Harry at the Invictus Games back in 2017 although some of the more intrinsic power dynamic has shifted and Harry looks less like a Prince proudly showing his future wife to the world and more like a man who is part of a power couple double act. Harry's body language back in 2017 was a blend of alpha-dominant and high status but with some wary gestures that suggested anxiety to be launching his future bride into the glare of the world's spotlight.
Meghan displayed similar body language to get Canada trip in 2017 (REX/Shutterstock)"His facial touches, with a nose touch and a temple touch, did seem to suggest some anxiety despite his swaggering, macho walk. He strode out with his chest puffed and shoulders splayed in a peacocking ritual and his use of directive pointing suggested he was both boasting and hosting Meghan."
The body language expert then suggested Meghan is displayed similar body language to her 2017 appearance at the Invictus Games during her and Harry's latest skiing adventure. "Meghan strode out quickly and with the same high energy and signals of keenness she is displaying during her current visit," she explained.
Judi continued: "She looked almost as confident and determined as she does today, although there were a constant flurry of flirt signals towards Harry back then to flatter his ego. The hand clasp is the same but the exclusivity signals where they whispered and produced tie-signs the first time around have decreased. Meghan is much more likely to be in lead role or in the role of encouragement and endorsement, using touches like the hand on Harry’s back to signal a desire to join in."