Body language expert reveals distinction in Meghan Markle's kisses on 'Suits' and PDA with Prince Harry
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: A body language expert claimed that a seemingly affectionate gesture made by Meghan Markle during her participation at the Invictus Games in Vancouver revealed an important aspect of her relationship with Prince Harry.
The Duchess of Sussex was seen kissing Prince Harry, cupping his cheek, in front of a cheering audience while showing off her £600k (approx $758K) diamond engagement ring.
Expert Judi James explained the significance of Meghan's favored kissing style and the primary distinction between kissing Harry and her co-star in the legal drama 'Suits'.
Body language expert reveals deeper meaning behind Meghan Markle's love of 'facial cupping'
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, was captured on camera placing her head on Prince Harry's shoulder and holding onto his arm as she was on stage at the Whistler Welcoming Ceremony in mid-February before guiding his lips into hers and planting a kiss.
Meghan's love of "facial cupping" has a deeper connotation, according to James, who also pointed out a significant contrast between Meghan's method of placing her hands on her husband's face and that of a previous co-star in the popular television series.
James told Daily Mail the Duchess, wearing a long cream trench coat to protect herself from Canada's freezing conditions, using "facial cupping" during the Invictus Games to "carefully steer" Harry into an "un-clumsy kiss."
"Meghan is clearly a fan of what’s known as facial cupping, which is where one or both hands are placed on the partner’s cheeks as a kiss is performed," James explained.
"It’s a controlling gesture that lightly or not so lightly clamps the head, allowing for a more synchronized, un-clumsy kiss via some careful steering and holding in place," she added.
The body language expert continued: "It also gives Meghan control over the timing of the kiss, meaning she can delay the lip touch to create a sense of romantic anticipation, or make the kiss more urgent and passionate."
James proposed that the Duke and Duchess might still be "in the honeymoon period of their relationship" based on their recent usage of "facial cupping" which is a "romantic" and "tender" gesture.
Meghan Markle's 'face-cupping' on 'Suits' contains strong finger-digging gestures
The Duchess used face cupping once while salsa dancing with Prince Harry on their 2024 trip to Colombia and once for a Valentine's Day photo. She also used it on her co-star Patrick J Adams in the legal show 'Suits'.
James said that Meghan was attempting to "clamp the actor’s face for some romantic and teasing eye contact before the kiss starts" during one scene where Meghan's character, Rachel Zane, kisses her fiance, Mike Ross (played by Patrick J Adams).
"She is digging her fingertips into the other actor’s face, with one finger burrowing into a spot behind his ear lobe," James said.
Given that Rachel Zane's ring is visible in the picture, James claimed that gentle face cupping on set can be interpreted as a type of "kissing foreplay" and serves to remind viewers that the characters are engaged or married.
Season six of 'Suits' features another poignant sequence where Meghan's character, Rachel Zane, meets up with her fiance, Mike Ross, upon his release from jail.
James contends that Meghan has been given more authority over a "non-partner" by using face cupping in this scene.
James claimed that Meghan can get greater control over the moment by using "facial cupping" because kissing a stranger or someone who is not her lover can be awkward.
"But there are some notable differences in the way she performs them with Harry compared to how she performs them on set," James said.
"Her face-cupping on Suits contains stronger finger-digging gestures than she uses with Harry and the clawed hand with the grabbing gesture suggests sexual passion," she added.
The Sussexes used the same "facial cupping" strategy in their engagement pictures. Meghan is seen in the black-and-white pictures holding Prince Harry's face tenderly while flashing her ring.
According to James, the fact that Meghan's hand was "unnaturally straight" with her fingers outstretched demonstrates both her love and authority for Harry.
She went on to say that the behavior implied a "desire for intimacy" and that it appeared as if Meghan was "sending Harry off to do battle."
