Meghan Markle and Harry: ‘Staged’ element to new photos exposed by body language expert

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Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, may now be residents of Montecito but the couple left their new Santa Barbara home to lend a hand at an important event in Los Angeles. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex helped distribute vital supplies including school equipment and nappies to needy families hard hit by the coronavirus.

The drive-through event was organised by charity Baby2Baby that “provides children living in poverty, ages 0-12 years, with diapers, clothing, and all the basic necessities that every child deserves.”

Baby2Baby shared a series of photos of Meghan and Harry from the event on Instagram.

The post read: “Baby2Baby was proud to host a drive-through distribution at Knox Elementary in South LA as students across the country return to distance learning this week.

“Thank you to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex for joining our team to help us distribute school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, food and more to children who need these basic essentials more than ever during this unprecedented back to school season.”

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Baby2Baby was proud to host a drive-through distribution at Knox Elementary in South LA as students across the country return to distance learning this week. Thank you to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex for joining our team to help us distribute school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, food and more to children who need these basic essentials more than ever during this unprecedented back to school season.

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Meghan and Harry were both wearing face masks in the pictures that showed them getting stuck in while they handed out supplies to parents and young children.

The photos were taken by a freelance photographer and show Meghan and Harry seemingly at ease as they interact with families.

Body language expert and author Judi James analysed the photos for Express.co.uk and noted there was a “performance dimension” to them.

Judi told Express.co.uk: “The obviously busy presence of the photographers must have added a performance dimension to these poses, making them less spontaneous than they might look, but as the small boy peers out from behind a mask and a cap, Harry bends in what seems like an attempt to catch his eye and make him smile, too.”

The photos prompted a backlash from some royal fans on social media, with one branding their appearance at the event “tacky.”

One Twitter user wrote: “Baby2Baby is one of the MOST celebrity heavy charities in LA.

“The work they do is amazing, but for moms in Hollywood, it’s the essential social event of the year.

“A savvy, but transparent move. Also, it’s tacky to openly bring your own photographer to a volunteer opportunity.”

While Harry seems to enjoy the physical work, Meghan’s approach is “more maternal”, Judi explained.

She said: “Meghan adopts a more maternal-looking stance, getting up-close to the people she is helping and even kneeling to attend to a small boy’s back-pack.

“Her eye-smile is visible above the mask though as she bends close to a car window to hand in parcels.”

According to Judi, Harry seemed to be in his element as he immersed himself in the task at hand.

She said: “In many ways, this is Harry back to doing what he does best and what he always appeared to enjoy the most: throwing himself into charity work that is active, hands-on and with scope to use his humour to cheer people up.

“He’s splayed and energetic here, either passing supplies down with one foot on the kerb or pulling a huge thumbs-up gesture to make the recipients grin.”

According to Judi, Harry’s obvious enthusiasm suggest he may miss his days in the military.

She said: “It’s moments like this, plus his verbal reference during their video link yesterday, that suggests he might be missing his army role.”

Prince Harry’s career in the British Army spanned a decade and he spent two tours in Afghanistan.

The Duke has previously opened up about enjoying the anonymity his time in the army afforded him.

Speaking about his time in Afghanistan in 2013, he said: “My father’s always trying to remind me about who I am, stuff like that, but it’s very easy to forget about who I am when I am in the army.”

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