After announcing their engagement earlier this week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first official public appearance in Nottingham, England, for World AIDS Day on Friday.
Prince Harry, who has previously spent time in Nottingham doing charity work, was “delighted to be introducing the city to Ms. Markle,” Kensington Palace said. “The visit today focuses on causes that [Harry] is particularly passionate about ― raising the awareness of HIV/AIDS and preventing youth crime.”
Judging by the photos, the public is clearly smitten with the royal couple:
Some even brought U.S. flags to make the American-born actress feel more at home:
The prince and actress are obviously smitten with each other, too. In the year and a half they’ve been together, Harry, 33, and Markle, 36, have never been shy about PDA.
Given royal protocol ― and the relative stuffiness we’ve come to expect from the royal family ― body language expert Traci Brown thinks Markle’s Americanness may be rubbing off on Harry. (Let’s be honest, though: Prince Harry has always been the more relaxed, adventurous royal ― remember that time he partied naked in Las Vegas in 2012?)
“It’s true, Harry was already pretty ‘loose’ for a British royal, but Brits usually don’t show a lot of emotion or affection in public,” Brown told HuffPost. “These two are very affectionate in public. It’s very different from the almost stuffy engagement announcement of William and Kate several years back.”
What else can we glean from the pair’s body language at the events Friday? Below, Brown and fellow body language expert Patti Wood, author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language & Charisma, decode photos from the couple’s big day out.
"Meghan's looking back at him and reaching out to hold his hand again [like she did at the engagement announcement]," she said. "Notice how her head comes down slightly and she tilts her head to look at him. That's such a beautiful little moment of intimacy. I find the adoration they show so charming."
"Here again we see Harry guarding his solar plexus -- the part of your stomach, below your ribs, where it can be painful if you are hit hard," she said. "It's his habit and a way to guard against the media and crowds. It's something we need to get used to seeing as he's in the news more."
"I love how she leans down and into him here," Wood said. "It shows that she has respect for him and wants to connect in a tender way. And I love that genuine smile on her face!"
"You see that she wants that connection and comfort in these very public situations," Brown said. "Harry's more comfortable in them than she is at this point. It's really something to adjust to."
"I loved how she bent down to get close to children," she said. "When she's interacting with each person, she greets them and makes it a private conversation, which is pretty incredible considering this is the first time she's out in an official capacity."
"She often has two hands on Harry," she said. "That shows the deep, intimate connection that they have. It could also say that she needs to be in control, but we do see pics of Harry in the control position, too. They have a relationship where one complements the other and they each lead at appropriate times."
"I love his open mouth and big laugh here," she said. "He's always been a happy, playful person; his baseline is happy, but what's great is that it's not diminished with Meghan. He can be fully happy in her presence."
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