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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Entertainment
Jennifer Newton

Prince William gave 'barrier gesture' towards Harry at Jubilee, says expert

A body language expert has suggested Prince William gave his brother Prince Harry the "opposite of an acknowledgement" as they both attended a Jubilee event for the Queen at St Paul's Cathedral. Despite coming together at the same event, the pair were seated far apart and were not seen standing next to each other.

The service of thanksgiving for the Queen was Harry and wife Meghan's first public appearance at a royal event since quitting the monarchy, the Mirror reports, and body language expert Judi James said William adopted a "barrier gesture" as he and wife Kate walked past the pew where his brother sat on the way to his seat.

Judi explained: "So far there have been no ‘moments’ between the brothers to signal acknowledgement or a hint of any restoration of their friendship bonding. Harry looked firmly resigned to the back row here and was not sitting behind his brother as he was for the last service of remembrance.

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"Harry’s expression did suggest some relief as he joked with Zara as he searched for his car on the way out and he threw a wide, open-mouthed grin in her direction from the pews, but otherwise he fell into a haunted eye expression with some rapid blinking to suggest inner anxiety, leaning in and down to Meghan when she spoke as though keen to get some support.

"There was the opposite to an acknowledgement from William as he walked past Harry’s row during the parade out of the service.

"Sucking in his lips and with his chin pulled up in a gesture of resolve he appeared to turn his head in the other direction for a moment, raising his order of service high in a barrier gesture."

Meanwhile, Judi noted that Meghan's appearance was "as perfect as it could have been under difficult circumstances". She said: "Her posture was upright and her smile was designed for a calm but low-key appearance.

"While Harry’s emotions and behaviour seemed to fluctuate between subdued and anxious and odd moments of fun break-outs that looked like another symptom of inner anxiety or tension, Meghan used a small touch on his back as what looked like the only other PDA than their signature hand clasp."

There has been much made of the rift between William and Harry. Since leaving the UK in early 2020, Harry has only seen his brother twice before the Jubilee celebrations - at the funeral of Prince Philip and at an unveiling of a statue of their late mother Princess Diana.

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