Meghan Markle’s gesture reveals key detail of her relationship with Prince Harry

A seemingly loving gesture during an appearance at the Invictus Games in Vancouver has revealed a key detail about and ‘s relationship, a body language expert has claimed. Judi James said the public display of affection by Duchess of Sussex showed a fondness for facial cupping.

While on stage at the Whistler Welcoming Ceremony in mid-February, the 43-year-old was caught on camera planting her head on Harry’s shoulder and clinging onto his arm during before guiding his lips onto hers and kissing. The move was greeted by the crowd with cheers and was a chance for Meghan to flash her £600k diamond engagement ring.

James said the seemingly-structured kiss revealed a deeper meaning behind Meghan’s fondness for facial cupping and highlighted a key difference between how she places her hands on her husband’s face versus a former co-star’s in the hit TV show Suits.

The body language expert old the Meghan used facial cupping – which is where one or both hands are placed on a partner’s cheeks as a kiss if performed, was to “carefully steer” Harry into an “un-clumsy kiss”. She said: “It’s a controlling gesture that lightly or not so lightly clamps the head, allowing for a more synchronised, un-clumsy kiss via some careful steering and holding in place.

“It also gives Meghan control over the timing of the kiss, meaning she can delay the lip touch to create a sense of romantic anticipation, or make the kiss more urgent and passionate.” The “tender” gesture shows the couple are still in the honeymoon period of their relationship, James claimed.

The Duchess used facial cupping during a Valentine’s Day snap and again while salsa dancing with on their trip to Colombia in 2024. She has also used it on numerous co-stars while filming the legal drama Suits.

In an emotionally-charged scene in season six, Meghan’s character, Rachel Zane, is reunited with her fiancé Mike Ross, played by Patrick J Adams, as he is released from prison. James suggests the use of facial cupping in this scene is to give Meghan more control over a “non-partner”.

She said: “But there are some notable differences in the way she performs them with Harry compared to how she performs them on set. Her face-cupping on Suits contains stronger finger-digging gestures than she uses with Harry and the clawed hand with the grabbing gesture suggests sexual passion.”

James claimed Meghan was trying to “clamp the actor’s face for some romantic and teasing eye contact before the kiss starts”. She said gentle facial cupping on set can be seen as a form of “kissing foreplay” and reminds viewers the characters are engaged or married as Meghan’s character’s ring can be seen in the shot.

It’s the same tactic the Sussexes used in their engagement photos. The black-and-white stills shows Meghan gentle gripping ‘s face and showing off her ring.

James said that her hand being “unnaturally straight” with her fingers extended shows she cherishes Harry but also that she is in charge.

She added that the action suggested a “desire for intimacy” and said that it looked as though Meghan was sending off to do battle.