How Harry and Meghan were ‘isolated’ at Sandringham during their final royal Christmas – as body language expert reveals duchess tried to ‘take charge’ because the world was watching

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared ‘isolated and ignored’ before leaving the Firm during their last Christmas at Sandringham, a body language expert has claimed.

Judi James told the Daily Mail that the Duchess of Sussex, now 44, was trying to ‘take responsibility’ for the situation, while Harry, now 41, appeared ‘distressed’ by his family’s apparent ‘rejection’.

Meghan was pregnant with her first child, Prince Archie, when she attended The Firm’s annual festivities at Sandringham for the second year in December 2018.

By then, rumors had begun to circulate that there was a rift between the former Suits actress and Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton, as the Royal Family appeared determined to present a united front when they gathered at the Norfolk mansion.

But while watching a clip of the couple, Ms James said Harry and Meghan ‘looked isolated, ignored and awkward’ during the royal walk outside St Mary Magdalene church.

‘Harry has decided to look at his father with a loving smile, but the ‘paperclip’ shaped buckle on his jacket indicates that he is distressed by possible feelings of rejection here,’ he explained.

While Ms James pointed out the changing roles between the royal family and non-royals, it emerged that Meghan had stepped in to ‘steer’ Harry into this ‘disastrous interaction’.

‘The impression here is that he knows the rules in terms of royal behavior and it is now Harry who needs to be guided.’

According to Ms James, Prince Harry and Meghan “looked isolated, ignored and awkward” outside St Mary Magdalene Church while other royal family members were having crowded gatherings or inter-family chats.

Such ‘direction’ is achieved through strategic hand placement by the duchess and what appears to be her ‘taking control of the choreography’.

‘This isn’t just resting as a gesture of compassion; ‘We can see her inner two fingers pressing hard against Harry’s arm as she pulls Harry in the direction she wants,’ he explained.

When Harry doesn’t move in the direction Meghan wants, Meghan allegedly repeats this little ‘pull’ gesture and even uses her bag as a tool to manipulate Harry.

According to Ms. James, the duchess also tried to convey joy and calm by displaying an “exaggeratedly elegant smile,” while also giving tactful prompts and “instructions.”

Apparently a testament to her acting skills, Meghan is ‘flawlessly able to direct Harry both verbally and physically without letting the tired smile on her face falter’.

At the Sandringham festivities that year, the Queen and Prince Charles allegedly made it clear to both Meghan and Kate that any hostility towards Meghan and Kate should be kept out of the public eye and that ‘the world will be watching’, according to royal author Tom Bower.

Suspicions that Meghan and Kate were clashing first began when the Sussexes announced in November that they planned to leave William and Kate, and then their neighbors at Kensington Palace, behind and move to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Ms James told the Daily Mail that Meghan (pictured outside the church curtsying to the Queen) was able to ‘direct’ Harry through strategic hand placement and he ‘took control of the choreography’.

There were also reports that the couple had a disagreement over bridesmaid dresses before their wedding in 2018; In his book Revenge, Mr Bower claimed the dispute was based on the cut and length of Princess Charlotte’s dress.

Dubbed the ‘Fab Four’ (Harry, Meghan, Kate and William), they walked together for half a mile from Sandringham Manor to the church, smiling brightly and chatting along the way, in a desperate attempt to avoid any royal discord.

In a bid to ‘defuse damaging stories’ of the royal row, Meghan also agreed to accompany Harry to his annual Boxing Day lunch the following day, according to Mr Bower.

While the royal Christmas appeared to have gone off without a hitch, 2018 marked Meghan and Harry’s second and last time attending the Sandringham festivities.

In her Christmas address to the nation in 2018, Her Majesty made a direct reference to Harry and Meghan’s wedding and their joyful pregnancy news; This was taken as a clear indication that the Suits star was warmly welcomed into the royal family.

The Duchess was aware the world would be ‘watching her perform’ at that year’s royal Christmas, and members of the Firm were keen to present a united front as rumors of a possible fight between Meghan and Kate grew stronger.

In Her Majesty’s Christmas speech to the nation in 2018 (pictured), she made direct reference to Harry and Meghan’s marriage and their joyful pregnancy news. While the Queen was speaking, a photograph of the duke and duchess was visible in the background.

But by 2019, there had been a notable shift, with Harry and Meghan completely disrupted. The monarch also notably made no mention of the Sussexes or their son Archie in his Christmas speech (pictured).

‘It’s been a busy year for my family; two weddings, two babies and another child expected soon. “It helps keep grandma well occupied,” he shared.

While the Queen was speaking, a framed photograph of the duke and duchess was also visible in the background; It was accompanied by a wedding photo of Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, and a family photo of Kate and William with their three young children.

But by 2019, there had been a notable shift as Harry and Meghan completely broke down. The monarch also made no mention of the Sussexes or their son Archie in his Christmas speech.

Just 24 days later, Meghan and Harry announced they would be stepping back from royal duties in a decision later dubbed ‘Megxit’. They have not been mentioned in any festive speeches since and have remained estranged from the Royal Family.