Meghan Markle was 'ball of nerves' and Prince Harry 'showed signs of stress' in Australia

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle displayed subtle indicators of "tension" and "nervousness" as they launched their Australian tour this week, a body language expert has claimed - though they appeared more relaxed as the visit progressed. The Sussexes made their first return to Australia since 2018 for a four-day schedule of appearances spanning Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, drawing considerable media coverage throughout. Beginning in Melbourne on Tuesday, the couple visited the Royal Children's Hospital before heading to the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum in Southbank, where body language specialist and psychic Inbaal Honigman reportedly spotted revealing signs of stress in both the Duke and Duchess. Meghan, particularly, seemed to be a "ball of nerves" despite concealing her unease behind a smile, Honigman is believed to have observed. Meghan 'hanging on to a life buoy', reports the Express . "Sure, she's smiling, but her smile is so tense that the veins in her neck are popping, muscles stretched to capacity. This smile is more nervous than happy, it shows that she wants to do everything right but is not confident that she can," Honigman told Hello!. "She is not so much holding on to Harry's arm as grabbing it protectively. The move is desperate, like she is hanging on to a life buoy. If he steps too far away from her, she'd feel lost." Harry, by contrast, seemed "fairly relaxed" but displayed a "sign of stress" in how he positioned his waving hand between his body and the crowd. "There's a protective aspect to this move," Honigman said. "He is using his waving hand to block the spectators and keep himself safe." Nerves begin to settle As the tour continued, Harry became calmer and more confident, while Meghan's anxiety subsided, Honigman observed. With Meghan absent on day two - she withdrew to film a surprise guest appearance on MasterChef Australia - Harry visited the Whitten Oval, home of Australian rules football club Western Bulldogs, to discuss men's mental health, before travelling to Canberra where he met veterans at the Australian War Memorial. Both Sussexes reunited from day three onwards, attending the InterEdge Summit before concluding the tour with several engagements in Sydney. At Swinburne University of Technology , the couple participated in Batyr, a mental health engagement programme, and Honigman noted that by this point the difference from the opening days couldn't have been starker. "We see Harry with his hands tucked in his pockets, relaxed and casual. He glances frequently towards his wife, keeping a watchful eye over her and making sure that she's enjoying herself Down Under," she said. "In more recent photos, Meghan's face appears peaceful, neutral; there are no nerves apparent. Her back is straight and shoulders square, as her confidence returns."