Body language expert decodes Meghan Markle's 'regal' pose during Drew Barrymore’s koala bear hug

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Drew Barrymore is no stranger to making her talk show guests feel a bit uncomfortable with her touchy-feely behavior, and it seems Meghan Markle has now joined the list. 

In a preview for this Thursday's 'The Drew Barrymore Show', a body language expert has pointed out the former royal’s awkward and less-than-enthusiastic reaction to Barrymore's "relentlessly clingy" hug. 

While Barrymore eagerly wraps her arms around Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’s more reserved response has raised eyebrows among an expert. Here's what a body language expert has to say about the intriguing moment.

Body language expert highlights Meghan Markle's rare pose with Drew Barrymore

Body language expert Judi James exclusively shared her insights with DailyMail regarding the interaction between Drew Barrymore and Meghan Markle, highlighting a rare pose from the Duchess.

James noted, “This is a rare pose from Meghan who is normally the first one to move in with the hugs to register the warm, spontaneously tactile side that was apparently met with a tsunami of ice water from the royal firm back in the UK.”

She continued, “She has clearly met her match in Drew, whose tactile behaviors on her chat show are a signature part of the brand. But it seems from this pose that what you get when you put two famously hugging women together is that one will bow out, namely Meghan in this case.”

The expert explained Markle’s pose, saying, “Meghan adopts a straight, polite, more regal-looking pose here, perhaps mirroring the kind of response she met with from the UK royals when she was busy hugging them.”

James observed, “Her hand is hanging in her pocket rather than reciprocating the display of affection and she's flashing a wide social smile at the camera rather than tilting her head in a reciprocal gesture.”

Shifting focus to Drew Barrymore’s embrace, James remarked, “Drew clings relentlessly though, curling her arms around Meghan's waist in a partial koala embrace and tilting her head to nestle against Meghan's locks.”

The expert then turned to Barrymore's facial expression, explaining, “Her rounded cheek, pursed lip smile signals a sense of warm friendship and affection while Meghan looks rather more distanced emotionally and keener to communicate with the camera than with her host here."

Body language expert talks about Drew Barrymore leaning on Meghan Markle

Judi James continued to discuss the photos showing Drew Barrymore leaning toward a seemingly 'wary' Meghan Markle as they sat together on the show’s couch.

James explained, “Drew's angle of lean as she sits on her sofa with Meghan suggests she's poised to move in for some tactile rituals as they chat. Meghan holds both hands up in front of her body though, with hands curled into fists in what looks like a subtle barrier ritual.”

A body language expert also noted Markle’s disinterest in any physical contact, saying, “She seems to be using her hands to illustrate or emphasis a point but the positioning suggests she is not totally open to any touching or hugging at this point.”

James further analyzed Markle’s facial expression, pointing out, “Meghan's facial expression also suggests some possible unease in this pic. Her brows are steepled in a suggestion of wariness and she has her hand resting on Drew's arm in what looks like a polite but firm restraining gesture.”

He quipped, “As she speaks Drew bathes her in a loving eye-gaze but Meghan performs a small cut-off ritual by bringing her hand up to touch her hair and cover part of her face, and she finds different ways to help avoid the intense eye contact from Drew.”

The expert observed, “Meghan seems intent on staying in her own 'love bubble' rather than connecting totally with Drew. Her adoration of Harry is described and shown emphatically in her near-breathless description of their relationship.”

Judi James concluded, “Her eyes look up and perform an eye-stutter with the lids flapping quickly in a gesture of being lost in reflection and she gazes upward for the same reason, breaking her eyes away from Drew's penetrating gaze as she does so."