Meghan Markle and Prince Harry drop 'performance signals' in behaviour switch-up, expert claims

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put on a clear display of their "authenticity" during a trip to Nigeria, an expert claims.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were all smiles as they attended an exhibition sitting volleyball match hosted by Nigeria Unconquered which is an Abuja-based charity that provides support for wounded, injured or sick service members.

In honour of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, the royal couple took a trip to Nigeria and were all smiles as they arrived.

The former Suits actress looked stunning in a monochrome patterned dress, while her husband smartly dressed in trousers complemented with an informal Invictus Games polo top.

Renowned body language expert, Judi James, noted that their harmonious demeanour conveyed genuine emotions, fostering a similar response from others, the Mirror reports.

She commented: "The couple's body language displays do hit exactly the right note here as they drop some of the performance signals of royals on tour and opt instead for some rituals that convey authentic and contagious enthusiasm and excitement."

"Meghan's smile is so intense it creates a dimpling on her upper cheeks and eye-wrinkling. She uses face gazing and leading techniques on the rather shy-looking children she meets and crouches to their height to make communications more effective."

Judi then went on to describe Prince Harry's visible excitement, saying: "Harry is a welter of enthusiasm, walking with a wide stride and watching the sports with all the active rituals of someone enjoying a cup final. He looks as though he would like to be out there joining in."

She also observed that while Meghan and Harry were affectionate, they balanced their displays of affection so as not to detract from the event.

Judi remarked: "The couple have also tempered their loving and bonding rituals to perhaps not upstage the event.

"Their hand clasp registers their togetherness but the fingers aren't meshed making it more of a relaxed gesture that can easily be broken when they want to mingle."

The Sussexes received an invitation to visit Nigeria from General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, who had previously met Harry in September at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The invitation followed Meghan's discovery of her Nigerian roots.

During a school visit on Friday, where the Duke delivered an impassioned speech about mental health, he told the students: "In some places around the world, more than you would believe, there is a stigma against mental health.

"Too many people don't want to talk about it because it's invisible, it's in your mind and we can't see it."

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