Prince Harry has stepped out at The Wellchild Awards 2025 this evening, just hours after arriving back in the UK. The Duke of Sussex, 40, as patron of the charity will be giving a speech at the awards ceremony, as well as meeting award winners.
Arriving shortly after 4pm on Monday at the event, Harry was all smiles and seemed happy to be attending the event which he holds close to his heart. However, body language expert Judi James believes that there were some telling gestures that the duke was “anxious” on arrival, which may be a result of stepping out without his wife Meghan Markle by his side. Meghan, 44, is believed to have stayed at the family’s Montecito home in America with the couple’s two children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Judi Jamess said: “This charity is close to Harry’s heart and his enthusiasm and warmth are obvious here but there are also several telling gestures that suggest inner anxiety and nervousness.
“As he walks into the venue he performs a series of truncated gestures that seem to be auto-contact rituals to self-soothe or comfort, as well as giving him an excuse to create barriers, suggesting some feelings of wariness when he is outside the building.
“He has his hand on his stomach first then he smooths the length of his tie. He appears to pull the sides of his jacket together and almost fold them across his stomach and then he uses one hand to loosely join both sides in a ‘clipping’ gesture.
“His upper lip looks tense when he smiles, suggesting some effort initially although his smiles with the hosts are warm and he looks genuinely delighted to see them again.”
She continued: “His handshakes look a little rigid and distanced but then he performs ‘upgrades’, placing a hand on the man’s bicep and holding his hands out to kiss the women on the cheek. Again the appearance of anxiety is seen though as he stands wiping one hand on the other after the greetings.
“His biggest ‘tell’ is in the way he then grasps at his wedding ring, suggesting he’s missing the emotional back-up of family.
“His pose for the photos suggests a softer, more compliant side as he clasps his hands in a cupped position, palms-upward in what looks almost like a ballet pose.”
Prince Harry is set to be in the UK for the next four days. It has not been confirmed whether he will meet with his father King Charles during this visit.