Prince Harry appeared “upbeat” after making his stance clear on recent divorce rumours, according to a body language expert.
Harry revealed his late mother Princess Diana continues to inspire him “every single day” during his virtual appearance at the 2024 Diana Awards ceremony.
The Duke of Sussex made the heartfelt statement whilst addressing recipients of the prestigious award via video link.
Body language expert Judi James noted that Harry appeared relaxed and natural during the virtual event, displaying a “bashful smile” reminiscent of his mother’s signature facial expressions.
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The Diana Award
The ceremony, broadcast on YouTube, saw the duke serve as a special guest to announce this year’s recipients of the award, which recognises young people working to improve the lives of others.
James continued to tell The Mirror: “Harry giggles slightly at his intro and rocks to one side to suggest an upbeat approach here.
“Talking about how some problems are too big for one person to tackle appears to strike a chord of empathy as he rubs his hands on his thighs, adding a motivational elbow-pump gesture as he refers to a ‘fairer world’ that seems to be his goal.”
During the ceremony, Prince Harry appeared alongside two legacy award recipients – Christina Williams and Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang.
Prince Harry spoke about his mother’s legacy at the awards
The Diana Award
The duke praised their “remarkable” pursuit of “equality, justice and access to education for young people.”
“It’s great to be here today celebrating the incredible achievements of young people who exemplify the spirit of the Diana Award,” Harry said in his address.
His appearance at the virtual ceremony came just hours after attending an art exhibition opening in New York City for his charity Sentebale.
The duke had also spoken at The New York Times Dealbook Summit earlier that day, while Meghan attended a gala in Los Angeles.
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James provided a detailed analysis of Harry’s appearance at the ceremony, noting his mastery of virtual events.
“His very bashful smile at the start is a coy beam that looks so similar to one of his mother’s signature facial expressions,” James observed.
When discussing global problems, James observed Harry rubbing his hands on his thighs, adding an “elbow-pump gesture” when referring to a “fairer world.”
The expert also noted how Harry’s fingers “mesh together” when mentioning his mother, showing “how she was an agent for inclusion and togetherness.”
Meghan Markle and Tyler Perry posed together on the red carpet in LAGetty
In his address, Prince Harry emphasised how daunting global challenges can appear to individuals.
“Sometimes the world’s problems can seem too big for one person to tackle, but your efforts are a powerful reminder that we all have the potential to contribute to a fairer world,” he said.
The duke stressed the collaborative nature of creating change, noting: “No one is ever a conduit for change alone.”
“My mother’s belief in the power of young people to drive positive change continues to inspire me every single day,” Harry shared.