Meghan Markle’s First Engagement with the Late Queen ‘Too Soon,’ Body Language Expert Claims She Was ‘Trying Too Hard’
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in May 2018, she quickly faced the challenge of learning the intricate rules of royal protocol. But just one month after their fairytale wedding, the new Duchess of Sussex was tasked with a daunting assignment: a joint public engagement with Queen Elizabeth II herself.
In June 2018, Meghan and the Queen opened Cheshire’s Mersey Gateway Bridge, visited Chester’s Storyhouse Theatre, and attended a lunch at the Town Hall.
Royal observers had hoped Meghan would learn by observing Her Majesty in action. However, body language expert Judi James believes the engagement may have been “premature” for the then-new royal.
At the bridge opening, Meghan was seen speaking to the Queen while the monarch looked away and rubbed her eye. According to Ms. James, Meghan may have inadvertently broken protocol, which instructs royals to “avoid any personal-looking communication” during public appearances. The Queen, she suggested, may have subtly tried to curb Meghan’s “intimate display of fondness.”
In another moment, Meghan lifted her hand to her mouth as if whispering to the Queen. Ms. James explained that while the gesture might have been natural, it could give the wrong impression. “Talking or laughing behind your hand can suggest you’re laughing at the people you are watching,” she said.
Though the Queen offered a brief smile, she “refused to really engage in a proper conversation,” Ms. James noted. The monarch’s careful attention to protocol ensured no members of the public were excluded or made to feel overlooked. Meanwhile, Meghan appeared eager to foster a public display of closeness with the Queen, which Ms. James interpreted as “trying too hard.”
This June 2018 engagement was the first—and only—time Meghan and the Queen appeared together publicly. Ms. James pointed out that Meghan’s debut was earlier than Princess Catherine’s. While Kate married in April 2011, her first joint engagement with the late monarch wasn’t until March 2012, and she appeared more at ease with royal customs.
Meghan also allegedly broke two additional rules of etiquette during the visit. First, she walked ahead of the Queen while greeting crowds in Chester—a breach of the rule that no royal should walk in front of the monarch. Second, she held a bouquet instead of passing it to her assistants, who would typically display it safely for security and public interaction purposes.
Royal biographer Tom Quinn claimed Meghan struggled with the rigid demands of royal life. In his book Gilded Youth, he wrote that Meghan “hated the fact that she had to do what she was told and go where she was told” and tried to both establish an independent role and outshine other family members, including the Queen.
The Queen reportedly offered Meghan guidance from her close friend Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, but Meghan declined, saying, “I’ve got Harry,” according to Gyles Brandreth.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan has spoken about the challenges of royal life, including feeling restricted in her speech and wardrobe. In a Bloomberg interview, she reflected on her former role, recalling, “I couldn’t be as vocal, and I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time! It felt a little bit inauthentic.” She added that being free to dress and speak authentically now allows her to be “comfortable in your own skin.”
