Meghan Markle's 'flirty gesture' on Australia visit that harks back to royal days

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Australia trip saw them pack in the outings with the pair taking part in many joint appearances, with the couple not shying away from public displays of affection while meeting adoring fans. And according to body language expert Judi James, Harry and Meghan’s visit to Australia is reminiscent of the early days of their relationship. In what has been dubbed a pseudo-royal tour, the visit is the Duke and Duchess’s first trip Down Under since their 2018 visit, where they spent 16 days travelling around Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand on their first royal tour as a married couple. Judi said that the couple have been replicating their body language from their visit over seven years ago when they were newlyweds, as they were seen clinging to each other during engagements. The body language expert told the Mirror : “I would say they are almost replicating the body language from the very earliest stages of their marriage on this tour in terms of their relationship. “Meghan arrived looking exactly as she did on their first royal tour, looking more like Harry’s ‘plus one’, allowing him to take the spotlight while his splayed chest and very gentlemanly, protective gestures towards her saw him in Alpha mode.” Judi added that the couple, who have been known to be holding hands and sneaking subtle touches while in public, seem to be almost ritualistic in their public displays of affection, despite being around hundreds of onlookers. She said: “The tactile bonds between them here also look like a re-run of their engagement days, with Meghan clinging to him in a needy-looking ritual that includes the double-cling where she holds his hand and clutches his arm too.” While Judi said there are a lot of parallels between this tour and their 2018 visit, one key difference, according to the body language expert. “The only thing that has declined slightly from the early days is the flirtier rituals like the very intense face-gazing and eye contact,” Judi explained. “The constant touches on his back from Meghan are still a feature though as she appears to quietly steer Harry or announce it is her turn at their meet and greets.” On the final day of their trip on Friday, Meghan spent just two hours at a "girls’ weekend" retreat in Sydney costing £1,400 per ticket amid strict security, where she was honoured as the guest speaker. VIP tickets for the Her Best Life event at the five-star InterContinental Coogee Beach hotel cost £1,670 and included a group table photo with the duchess. There was extensive security at the hotel for the duchess’s visit, with media access to the event strictly limited. Meghan was due to appear at the event at 5pm and by 7pm, her car was seen leaving. She was then joined by Harry and the pair were later snapped at the New South Wales Waratahs vs Moana Pasifika rugby match.