Prince Harry took the “lead” during his and Meghan Markle’s visit to a Nigerian school supported by his Archewell Foundation, while his wife adopted an encouraging “plus one” stance, a body language expert has revealed.
The couple began their 72-hour visit to the West African nation this morning and appear to be “absolutely delighted” to have made it on this tour.
Speaking to FEMAIL, communications professional Judi James explained that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear to have “fallen back into the non-verbal habits and status signals of the early days of Meghan’s life as a member of the royalty here.”
The pair spoke to students at Wuse Lightway Academy this morning, about five hours after their arrival in Abuja on a British Airways flight. Then from noon onwards, they visited the Nigerian Defense Headquarters for their next engagement.
“While Meghan strikes some elegant but more ‘plus one’-like poses here at the beginning, whether smiling or gazing adoringly at Harry as he delivers his speech, it’s Harry who seems to be the protagonist here,” Judi said.
Prince Harry took the “lead” during his and Meghan Markle’s visit to a Nigerian school supported by his Archewell Foundation, while his wife adopted an encouraging “plus one” stance, a body language expert has revealed.
“And even very much the royal prince, standing with his legs spread and confident or having a more active and immersive chat with the line of people waiting to greet them.”
He also said this extended to helping guide his wife through interactions.
“When he looks at Meghan, his gesture suggests that he is talking to her during the action, and his emphatic gesture during his speech suggests that he is also in his element here,” Judi said.
“When they hold hands, it’s Meghan cupping her hand in his, with Harry’s hand on top, again hinting that this is their ‘main’ part of the visit.”
However, the body language expert believes that the two will pass the baton in social situations.
“Her schedule suggests that Meghan will take the lead in some of her own appearances,” he continued.
“And it seems like the couple might even have adopted a new format of taking turns using the most dominant or supportive signals in the style that our royals and many celebrity power couples have been doing for years.”
Meghan told a group of children today “I see myself in all of you” as she spoke to students about mental health and encouraged them to “be honest with each other.”
The couple began their 72-hour visit to the West African nation this morning and appear to be “absolutely delighted” to have made it on this tour.
Speaking to FEMAIL, communications professional Judi James explained that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear to have “fallen back into the non-verbal habits and status signals of the early days of Meghan’s life as a member of the royalty here.”
‘When I look around this room, I see myself in all of you too. So it is a complete honor to have our first visit to Nigeria and to be here with all of you,” he said.
‘We believe in all of you, we believe in your future, we believe in your ability to continue to tell your stories and be honest with each other. There is no need to suffer in silence. Just make sure you take care of yourselves.’
Meghan also praised James Holt, the chief executive of the Archewell Foundation who accompanied them on the trip, for his work, adding that his “birthday is today.”
Harry gave his own speech on mental health, evoking memories of his suffering after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he referred to people who “have lost a loved one in their family and don’t know where to turn or “Who to talk to.” ‘.
Speaking at Wuse Lightway Academy this morning, Harry said: ‘In some cases around the world, more than you would believe, there is a stigma when it comes to mental health.
‘Too many people don’t want to talk about it because it’s invisible, something that’s in your mind and you can’t see. It’s not like a broken leg, it’s not like a broken wrist, it’s something we’re still relatively unsure about.
‘But guess that? “Every person in this room, the youngest, the oldest, every person has mental health.”
The pair spoke to students at Wuse Lightway Academy this morning, about five hours after their arrival in Abuja on a British Airways flight.
While Meghan strikes some elegant but more “plus one” poses at first, either smiling or gazing adoringly at Harry as he delivers his speech, “Harry seems to be the protagonist here,” Judi said.
Harry gave his own speech on mental health, evoking memories of his suffering after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he referred to people who “have lost a loved one in their family and don’t know where to turn or whom”. talk to’
He said people had to “take care of themselves so they can take care of other people, and other people have to be able to take care of themselves so they can take care of you,” adding, “That’s how it works.”
The Duke continued: ‘And there is no shame in being able to admit that today is a bad day, okay? That you woke up this morning feeling sad; that you were at school feeling stressed; that you have lost a loved one in your family and you don’t know who to turn to or who to talk to. All these things that they can even make you believe are not for conversation.
Harry continued: ‘Each of those things is completely normal, it’s a human reaction, whether it’s pain, stress or any feeling. It comes from an experience you’ve had: you can have it, she (Meghan) can have it, I can have it. They can have it. Chances are, each and every one of us will have it on any given day.
“So if we take anything away from today, we should know that mental health affects all people.”
Nigerian defense spokesperson Brigadier General Tukur Gusau confirmed today that Harry and Meghan arrived in Abuja early this morning.
They will meet with wounded soldiers and their families in what Nigerian officials say is a show of support to improve soldiers’ morale and well-being.
Abidemi Marquis, Director of Sports at the Nigerian Defense Headquarters, said: “This engagement with Invictus gives us the opportunity to get our soldiers back.”
Harry and Meghan are pictured smiling as they begin their tour of Nigeria with a trip to Wuse Lightway Academy today.
Prince Harry greeted students with a wave as he arrived at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja today.
Harry served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter gunner co-pilot, after which he founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to offer wounded veterans and service members the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympic Games.
Nigeria was among the nations that participated in last year’s edition of the games.
The Nigerian military has touted the Invictus Games as one that could help the recovery of thousands of its personnel who have been fighting local Islamic extremists Boko Haram and its factions since 2009, when they launched an insurgency.
Marquis said, “80 percent of our soldiers who have participated in this recovery program are improving (and) their outlook on life is positive.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were all smiles as they arrived at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja this morning.
Children eagerly watched Harry and Meghan’s visit to Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja today
“The recovery program has given them the opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, improve their mental health and emotional intelligence.”
Brigadier Tukur Gusau told MailOnline: “They will be tired after the trip so they will rest and then the first engagement will be at noon at Defense Headquarters.”
“After that, they will travel to Kaduna to meet the wounded soldiers at a military hospital before returning to Abuja for further engagements.”
The visit is primarily aimed at promoting the Invictus Games and comes after Harry met the Nigerian team and General Musa at last year’s competition in Dusseldorf, Germany.
It was there that he told the audience that Meghan was “supporting the Nigerian team” after discovering she had heritage from the West African nation.
Harry and Meghan are visiting Nigeria at the invitation of General Christopher Musa.