Meghan Markle: 'ball of nerves' during Australia tour says body language expert

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle showed hidden signs of "tension" and "nervousness" as they began their Australian tour this week, according to a body language expert - before settling into the engagements as the days wore on.

The Sussexes returned to Australia for the first time since 2018 for a four-day programme of engagements across Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, attracting significant press attention throughout.

Kicking off in Melbourne on Tuesday, the pair visited the Royal Children's Hospital before making their way to the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum in Southbank, where body language expert and psychic Inbaal Honigman, reportredly identified tell-tale signs of stress in both the Duke and Duchess.

Meghan, in particular, appeared to be a "ball of nerves" despite masking her anxiety behind a smile, Honigman is understood to have said.

Meghan 'hanging on to a life buoy'

"Sure, she's smiling, but her smile is so tense that the veins in her neck are popping, muscles stretched to capacity. This smile is more nervous than happy, it shows that she wants to do everything right but is not confident that she can," Honigman told Hello!.

"She is not so much holding on to Harry's arm as grabbing it protectively. The move is desperate, like she is hanging on to a life buoy. If he steps too far away from her, she'd feel lost."

Harry, by contrast, appeared "fairly relaxed" but revealed a "sign of stress" in the way he held his waving hand between his body and the crowd.

"There's a protective aspect to this move," Honigman said. "He is using his waving hand to block the spectators and keep himself safe."

Nerves begin to settle

As the tour progressed, Harry grew calmer and more assured, while Meghan's anxiety eased, Honigman observed.

With Meghan absent on day two - she stepped away to film a surprise guest appearance on MasterChef Australia - Harry took to the Whitten Oval, the ground of Australian rules football club Western Bulldogs, to speak about men's mental health, before heading to Canberra where he spent time with veterans at the Australian War Memorial.

Both Sussexes were back together from day three onwards, appearing at the InterEdge Summit before wrapping up the tour with a series of engagements in Sydney. At Swinburne University of Technology, the couple joined Batyr, a mental health engagement programme, and Honigman noted that by this stage the contrast with the opening days could not have been more striking.

"We see Harry with his hands tucked in his pockets, relaxed and casual. He glances frequently towards his wife, keeping a watchful eye over her and making sure that she's enjoying herself Down Under," she said.

"In more recent photos, Meghan's face appears peaceful, neutral; there are no nerves apparent. Her back is straight and shoulders square, as her confidence returns."