It looks as though Prince Harry was caught red-handed – and the internet certainly hasn’t let him get away with it as he and his wife, Meghan Markle, attended a lavish event together over the weekend. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the Project Healthy Minds gala on October 9 at Spring Studios in New York to receive a Humanitarians of the Year award.
Prince Harry appeared very much enamored with the former Suits actress, as a video clip from the red carpet showed him putting a hand on her bottom. This comes after the couple was spotted enjoying a spot of dinner with pop star Ed Sheeran.
In the viral video, which has since been viewed over nine million times on social media, the pair are seen posing for photos alongside Phil Schermer, chief executive of Project Healthy Minds, when Harry puts his arm around Meghan, but below the small of her back.
Meghan, 44, then smiled warmly at Harry, 41, before weaving her own arm underneath his, moving his hand up her back.
While the couple’s somewhat loving interaction has given fans a light-hearted moment to talk about on social media, body language expert Judi James says there could have been an altercation motive.
Speaking exclusively to Express US, the expert said: “This is often a ‘secret’ sign that celebrity couples use when they’re posing on the red carpet, and the reasons for doing it can vary.”
She continued, “This is a very important, high-profile, and serious event for the couple rather than a fun party-style outing, and that does make it appear a little odd.
“Both are dressed soberly for business rather than sexy, and both are promoting a more campaigning side to their lives. If this were a red carpet for Meghan’s Netflix series, then some sexual appreciation might work the narrative a little better in terms of tone as well as plugging the fact that all his wife’s beekeeping and flower sprinkles just make her even hotter in his book.
“But this bum-touching does look incongruent here, making it more of a tie sign that is flirty in the face of a very serious event.”
Judi pointed out, “Harry slides his hand onto her bum and, in a thoughtful gesture, ensures his hand doesn’t interfere with the line of her jacket. He strokes it with his hand and then with his thumb before it appears that Meghan moves away from his embrace to remind him with a smile that they’re out in public.
“As a sexy interaction, this might look adorable, as though he can’t wait to get her home, and his naughty smile suggests he sees this as grade A flirting with his sexy wife,” she continued.
However, Judi concluded, “There can be other motivations for bum-touching in public, though. It can suggest a needy desire for attention, a bit like a small kid trying to get their mother’s attention when she’s chatting with other grown-ups.
“Or it can be a soothing ritual to calm someone down when they’re nervous in public, although that would be unlikely with the very confident Meghan.”