Prince Harry was “nervous” and engaged in an “anxiety ritual” before a speech in New York today, a body language expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex, who turned 40 last week, appeared on stage in the Big Apple without his wife Meghan Markle to discuss mental health and climate change with two young winners of a legacy award in memory of Princess Diana.
There, dressed in an impeccable navy suit and wearing a gold ‘Diana Award’ brooch, the Duke cracked his knuckles, pulled on his jacket and tie, his legs shaking slightly.
According to body language expert Judy James, these gestures were a sure sign of “nervousness” and “anxiety,” but she added that it is possible that he was conscious of his actions.
Reacting to a video of the Duke at the event, Judy explained: “Incredibly, Harry made no less than 19 gestures or rituals of anxiety or nervousness here in the space of 28 seconds.
Prince Harry looked “nervous” and “anxious” at an event in New York today, a body language expert claims
Body language expert Judy James says Duke performed “19 anxiety rituals,” including tugging on his tie (as seen here).
“He is known to be a nervous speaker, but he rarely, if ever, displays this amount of concentrated signals, and in fact he does it more personally on stage than off stage, only the body language seems more intriguing, almost as if he is feeling happy or relaxed inside, expressing a message of concern.
In addition to his elegant suit, the prince wore a sky-blue shirt and a dark tie, which Judy noted he tugged on “at least four times.”
She referred to the moments when she played with her clothes as “rituals,” suggesting “nervousness” and “self-soothing” to the expert.
“These kinds of personal contact rituals suggest nervousness and a desire to create small barriers and a certain comfort within oneself,” he said.
‘Harry puts his jacket on as he sits down before adjusting his tie, which would be normal procedure for both of them. But then he tugged on his tie at least four more times and tugged on his jacket three more times.
“He jumps up in his chair, rubs his knees with both hands, sits back in the seat, shakes his legs and cracks his knuckles while interlacing his fingers, rubs his thumbs together, then rubs his face.”
He adds that his actions could be mistaken for “high-energy excitement,” if it weren’t for his facial expression, which instead indicates anxiety; especially “a furrowed brow and some lip-licking.”
‘It could be a way to get back into a performance or it could be that the content evokes some strong emotions. Or maybe he was overwhelmed by last-minute nerves,’ he continued.
The prince appeared on stage in New York today without his wife Meghan Markle, alongside two young winners of a Princess Diana legacy award to talk about mental health and climate change, but much was made of his indifferent behaviour.
Dressed in an impeccable navy suit and wearing a gold ‘Diana Award’ brooch, the Duke cracked his knuckles, tugged at his jacket and tie, his legs visibly shaking.
At one point, the Duke was seen getting so excited that his face turned bright red, at times even flashing an affectionate smile, and happily interacting with his audience.
While sitting on stage, she spoke about the importance of mental wellbeing at an event where participants discussed their climate concerns.
He personally interviewed Chiara Rianti Hutapia Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica, who received The Legacy Award in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and joked: “For some reason I’ve been given the microphone to ask questions.”
She told them: ‘I applaud you for having the confidence to stand on this stage. I know my mom would be incredibly proud of you. Your activism is true to how my mother lived her life.’
Harry then asked: “Do you think leaders and people in positions of power are listening to you?” adding that he wanted the Diana Award to help them campaign to tackle climate change and make an impact around the world.
According to Judy, his gestures were a sure sign of “nervousness” and “anxiety,” but it is possible that he was conscious of his actions.
Prince Harry personally interviewed Chiara Rianti Hutapia Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica, who received The Legacy Award in memory of their late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
And when asked what gives him hope for the future, he said: “I said it years ago and I will say it again. The young generation gives me hope. Your courage gives me hope.”
‘We all need the courage to change the course of this world, perhaps more than ever. We need to listen to what you say and act because this will rob you of your future and that is unacceptable.’
Her decision to fly solo to New York to meet royals and celebrities before a solo trip to Britain shows she is determined to seek new opportunities and “assert herself” after turning 40, insiders told MailOnline today.
The Duke of Sussex will be away from Montecito for the next eight days and on Saturday visited a California facility hosted by Kevin Costner, without his American wife.
Harry was also occasionally greeted with a warm smile; and he happily interacted with his audience.
Last night he attended a dinner hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), welcoming Queen Mathilde of Belgium upon her arrival.
On a trip to New York this week, he will support charities and pet companies including African Parks, The Hello Trust, The Diana Award and Travelist. And this weekend he will fly back to London without his wife for his annual visit to support Wellchild at its awards ceremony.
Harry’s solo journey
Monday, September 23
SOY: Harry appeared on a panel discussion: The Global Mental Health Crisis Among Young People at the Concordia Summit for the Diana Award.
P.M: She will appear on stage for an event promoting the work of Hello Trust, the charity loved by her late mother, who walked through Angolan minefields in 1997.
Tuesday, September 24th
The Duke of Sussex is expected to attend the ‘Guardians of African Parks’ charity gala
Wednesday, September 25 to Friday, September 27
Harry will attend the UN General Assembly High-Level Week and other Climate Week-related events.
Monday, September 30th
Harry will be in London for the Wellchild Awards
He reportedly planned a boys-only weekend with friends to mark his 40th birthday this month but bailed on a “double birthday” event with a smiling Meghan, held for pal Tyler Perry, on the same night as the Prince’s big day.
Biographer Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in Their Own Words, said: “Harry sometimes feels like an extra and is often unhappy when out with Meghan at events in California. I think he has reached a point where he wants more for himself. He has turned 40 and must be wondering what the future holds for him.
‘I think he’s desperate to find new meaning to his life and it seems to involve more branches than just his own.
She has a few days in New York and then will go to London to attend the Wellchild event in which she has been involved for years.
‘It’s clear that he wants to find some cause he can get involved in and give his life some purpose.
“Meghan doesn’t want to come back to this country, so she has to fly alone.”
Harry is said to be in touch with some of his old friends ahead of his visit to the UK.
‘I’m sure he’s missing some mates he can go out with for a beer and really relax. The more he works on himself and creates some new projects, the more likely he is to heal and eventually have some separation from his family, but it’s going to be a long road,’ Dampier said.
Royal expert and investigative journalist Tom Bower said Harry will appear to be trying to “assert himself” next week.
He said: “It is not just Harry’s repeated participation in solo events that suggests a change in his lifestyle and self-presentation techniques, at least not in Britain.”
