Why These Moments on Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australian Tour Have Been Dubbed ‘Divisive’ and ‘Phony’
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle‘s trip to Australia has definitely gotten some mixed reactions depending on who you talk to, which is in stark contrast to the way the two were welcomed when they first traveled to the country in 2018.
Before the prince and former Suits star even landed Down Under this time around, the rumblings that the taxpayers would be footing the security bill for the trip rubbed people the wrong way and led to a petition against that with over 45,000 signatures. And while the Sussexes do have their fans, those who are not want to know what the purpose of their visit is considering that they are no longer working royals, with local headlines blaring: “Faux royal tour to shore up Brand Sussex.”
The fact that the two are private citizens now, but brought a hired photographer and reporter with them also had many calling the trip staged and just a money-grab as tickets to an event with Meghan cost over $2,000 a person.
The first stop on Meghan and Harry’s tour was The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, followed by the duchess’s visit to McAuley Community Services for Women, which supports women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness.
Here’s why some experts have called those visits “divisive” and “phony.”
Dr. Louise Mahler is a keynote speaker and expert in body language, voice, and emotion. She is recognized as a Top 30 Global Guru in both Body Language and Communication with international awards for her work, and holds a PhD in business as well as a degree in organizational psychology.
She commented on the duke and duchess’s interactions, telling The Mirror, “The domestic Goddess act does not cut it with me. Meghan grabs hold of Harry’s upper arm and hangs on … reaching out shyly with half an arm to greet others, like a retiring introvert overcome by adoration. Together they both crouch down for small children, embracing and showing warmth before going off to pick and sniff plants in the garden together in a natural healing ceremony.”
Dr. Mahler continued, “I don’t want to take away from the joy this may bring to deserving participants, but there is something dreadfully and shockingly incongruent here. The physical appearance we see bears no scar of the family conflict, staff distress and financial and business turmoil we know exists. Even the glaringly omnipresent effect of jetlag is not present after a 16-hour flight back in time. None of it shows and somehow that makes it alarmingly unreal, divisive, and for me, repulsive.”
Fellow body language expert and author, Dr. Lillian Glass, added that not just Meghan’s interaction at the hospital but with the ladies at McAuley Community Services for Women appeared “phony” to her.
Speaking about the Duchess of Sussex’s visit to both places, Dr. Glass said, “Meghan’s body language is most revealing. She’s got a plastered-on phony smile when feeding the homeless. She appears to be elated that she is back in the public eye with a crowd of people looking at her.
“Her continuous open mouth, inappropriate laughter, and over-the-top smiles are both unnerving and disturbing. Since it has been a while and since their only audience are the homeless who couldn’t care less about Meghan or Harry but rather on their daily survival, and very ill children who would be better off remaining in their hospital beds instead of being used as photo op pawns and being subjected to the falseness of these two really caring about them.”
However, despite the experts’ opinions, the hospital’s chief executive, Dr. Peter Steer, praised the Sussexes for their visit and insisted, “It was a genuinely meaningful visit for our staff and for the young people receiving care.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
