Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were captured on film walking through San Antonio airport in Texas ready to fly out of the American state after their appearance at the star-studded South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.
Images and footage on social media show Harry and Meghan, dressed casually, and walking side by side through the airport terminal.
Prince Harry was dressed casually in a dark jumper with his sleeves rolled up and wore dark trousers, and Meghan was also dressed down. She donned a black top, black trousers, flat pumps, and a white bag, and carried a white jacket over her right arm.
While rushing through the terminal, Meghan had her hand constantly on Harry’s upper back and lower back, and a body language expert has claimed the gesture is Meghan’s way of talking to Harry without words.
Judi James told the Mirror: “Meghan has long been a fan of the steering hand touch, frequently placing a hand on Harry’s back in a gesture that can have several potential uses.”
Judi explained the former Suits actress has a favourite method of “non-verbal communication” with Harry.
She said: “It’s one of her favourite tie-signs or method of non-verbal communication with her husband and its use can vary from letting him know she’s there at a social event and keen to get into a conversation to offering a supportive and rewarding message of almost maternal affection to steering him about to make sure he gets from A to B.”
The body language expert also explained that because the couple was not in social interaction, the action performed by Meghan could be of the “steering variety”.
She commented: “It’s still a gesture of affection but also implied dominance, as though he might need some advice on going in the right direction.”
Before the couple jet set from the airport, Meghan took centre stage as she joined Brooke Shield and US veteran reporter Katie Couric for a special panel at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Texas.
The Duchess of Sussex joined the impressive line-up for the International Women’s Day event, kicking off the Austin festival as a “visionary female leader” and bestselling author.
During the panel, the Duchess personally opened up about her own experience with bullying as she insisted more has to be done to create online safeguarding measures.
Meghan said: “It’s really interesting because I can reflect on it, I keep my distance from [social media] right now, for my own wellbeing.” As Harry watched his wife on stage from sitting with audience, Meghan opened up about how the bulk of the abuse she faced was while she was pregnant.
