The Duke and Duchess of Sussex showed their ‘authenticity’ as they stepped out hand in hand at a volleyball match during their Nigerian trip, says a body language expert

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle displayed their “authenticity” as they stepped out during their Nigeria trip, an expert claims.

The pair were seen holding hands and grinning as they embarked on an outing to an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered, a local charity organisation that supports wounded, injured, or sick servicemembers, in Abuja. This comes as part of their visit to Nigeria, amid celebrations of the 10th Invictus Games anniversary.

The pair appeared blissfully happy as they arrived, with Meghan looking glamorous in a black and white printed dress, while her husband looked dapper in some smart trousers as he kept it casual with an Invictus Games polo shirt. Body language expert Judi James says the couple’s unified display showed genuine feelings and encouraged others to feel the same.

Harry and Meghan beamed as they strolled hand in hand ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
She said: “The couple’s body language displays do hit exactly the right note here as they drop some of the performance signals of royals on tour and opt instead for some rituals that convey authentic and contagious enthusiasm and excitement.

“Meghan’s smile is so intense it creates a dimpling on her upper cheeks and eye-wrinkling. She uses face gazing and leading techniques on the rather shy-looking children she meets and crouches to their height to make communications more effective.”

Judi then explained how Harry’s enthusiasm showed signs of him wanting to join in the action. She continued; “Harry is a welter of enthusiasm, walking with a wide stride and watching the sports with all the active rituals of someone enjoying a cup final. He looks as though he would like to be out there joining in.”

The couple have been enjoying their trip to Nigeria ( 
Image:
Getty Images for The Archewell F)
Judi also noted how while Meghan and Harry put on a loving display for bystanders, they made an effort to keep a steady level of affection to not overshadow the event. She said: “The couple have also tempered their loving and bonding rituals to perhaps not upstage the event. Their hand clasp registers their togetherness but the fingers aren’t meshed making it more of a relaxed gesture that can easily be broken when they want to mingle.”

The Sussexes were invited to Nigeria by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who met Harry last September at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany. Their invite came after Meghan found out about her Nigerian heritage.

The outing came after Harry gave a moving speech about mental health while the couple visited a school on Friday. Speaking to the children and addressing the room, the Duke said: “In some places around the world, more than you would believe, there is a stigma against mental health. Too many people don’t want to talk about it because it’s invisible, it’s in your mind and we can’t see it.”