Meghan Markle was a ‘ball of nerves’ during Australia visit with ‘stressed’ Prince Harry – exclusive

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to Australia for the first time since 2018 this week for a major tour with much press attention. 

So it’s hardly surprising that the Sussexes were feeling a bit on edge as they began four days of engagements across Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. 

The first stop on their tour was the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne on Tuesday, before visiting the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum in Southbank. 

There, Meghan was seen holding Harry’s arm as they walked past crowds to enter the museum. Analysing the moment, body language expert and psychic Inbaal Honigman tells HELLO! that the Sussexes displayed secret signs of “tension” and “nervousness”. 

Meghan, in particular, she explained, seemed like a “ball of nerves” despite trying to hide it with a smile. 

Inbaal comments: “Sure, she’s smiling, but her smile is so tense that the veins in her neck are popping, muscles stretched to capacity. This smile is more nervous than happy, it shows that she wants to do everything right but is not confident that she can.

“She is not so much holding on to Harry’s arm as grabbing it protectively. The move is desperate, like she is hanging on to a life buoy. If he steps too far away from her, she’d feel lost.”

Harry, by contrast, appeared “fairly relaxed” but revealed a “sign of stress” by holding his hand for a wave between his body and the crowd. “There’s a protective aspect to this move,” Inbaal said. “He is using his waving hand to block the spectators and keep himself safe.”

Settling into the visit

As the days went on, Inbaal explained that Harry became calmer and more confident, and Meghan’s nerves started to settle.

On the second day of the programme, Meghan was absent due to filming a surprise episode of MasterChef Australia, where she’s set to star as a guest judge. Meanwhile, Harry spoke about men’s mental health at the Whitten Oval, home to the Australian rules football club Western Bulldogs. Later on, he travelled to Canberra to meet veterans at the Australian War Memorial. 

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The couple reunited on Thursday and Friday, for the InterEdge summit in Melbourne, followed by a final string of engagements in Sydney. 

On the third day, the couple visited Batyr, a mental health engagement programme, at Swinburne University of Technology. 

Inbaal said: “We see Harry with his hands tucked in his pockets, relaxed and casual. He glances frequently towards his wife, keeping a watchful eye over her and making sure that she’s enjoying herself Down Under.

“In more recent photos, Meghan’s face appears peaceful, neutral; there are no nerves apparent. Her back is straight and shoulders square, as her confidence returns.”