PRINCE William did his first engagement today after Harry and Meghan’s bombshell Oprah Winfrey chat, and revealed his “strong feelings” towards the interview.
Body language expert Judi James said that the Duke of Cambridge, 39, was “explosive” as he responded directly to claims by the Sussexes that his family are “racist”.
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Kate and William are said to be deeply upset by the chat – in which Meghan made repeated digs at her sister-in-law and accused an unnamed family member of raising concerns over her unborn baby’s skin tone.
During a visit to an East London school, William replied to a reporter and insisted that the royals are “very much not a racist family”.
Judi told Fabulous: “The fact that William produces a spontaneous-looking reply to a question from the press after his father walked past and ignored them yesterday probably speaks volumes about the strength of William’s feelings over the Oprah interview and his desire to take some sort of action.
“The pressure of the moment leads to him touching his mask in a barrier gesture as he walks away but again he offers an emphatic reply when he looks back to say ‘We are not a racist family’.”
Judi said William and Kate appeared “reflective and rather sad” as they were pictured arriving in their car to the engagement.
Judi explained: “There are some signs of tension in William’s body language, like his signature fig-leaf hand barrier as he chats to his host and some even stronger barrier signals as he sits while Kate chats to the group.”
William was also asked if he’d spoken to his brother or sister-in-law since the chat aired, and he replied: “No, I haven’t spoken to him yet… but I will do.”
Judi said of the moment: “William’s first response to a question about having spoken to his brother is a brief, slightly explosive and ironic-sounding laugh.
“He tilts his head and his brows go up as he gives his answer of ‘No but I’m going to’ and with his raised brows and what looks like an eye-smile the suggestion is of firmness that still looks tinged with big-brotherly good humour or affection.”
During the Oprah chat, the Sussexes made a series of allegations against the Royal Family – including that Meghan had been left in tears by Kate over the flower girl dresses in the lead up to the Royal Wedding.
And while Meghan said she had forgiven Kate, The Times claimed on Monday that the 39-year-old slammed the door in her sister-in-law’s face when she took flowers to Nottingham Cottage – the Sussex’s home at the time.
Judi said Kate appeared “resilient” today as she showed up for the engagement.
It comes as:
- The Queen ‘prepares to call Meghan and Harry to offer an olive branch’
- Piers Morgan smiled for the media after stepping down from Good Morning Britain when he refused to apologise to Meghan
- It’s claimed Meghan was helped by top mentors – but ‘wouldn’t listen to anyone’
- The royal couple took 13 holidays – despite the Duchess claiming her passport was taken away
- Meghan’s team told the BBC ‘not to just use old white men’ when debating the interview
She explained: “Kate, on the other hand, looks much more resilient here, dressing in a tailored coat that is in the shade of strong pink that signals confidence and a desire to stand out and be noticed.”
And Judi added the Cambridges looked “as tight a team as ever”, and this was shown by their “on-going trait of postural echo or mirroring.”
She added: “Their torsos lean together slightly as they sit and there is one telling shot where William is seen gazing at his wife as she smiles and chats, with his softened eye-smile suggesting affection and admiration.”
During her chat, Meghan also broke down in tears as she revealed she told her husband she “didn’t want to be alive anymore” and had suicidal thoughts.
The Duchess said she begged for help from the Firm – but it was her husband who “saved” her.
Meghan also told Oprah there had been conversations with Prince Harry and a “family” member about their unborn son and what colour his skin would be – and “what that would mean or look like”.
Oprah later revealed the senior royal who made the comments wasn’t either the Queen or Prince Philip, who currently remains in hospital after undergoing heart surgery.
The chat show queen told CBS This Morning that she’d asked Harry about who had said it – adding: “He did not share the identity with me but he wanted to make sure I knew, and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother or grandfather that were part of those conversations.
“He did not tell me who was a part of those conversations.”
Almost two days after the interview aired, the Queen addressed the allegations with a public statement, which read: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.
“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning.
“Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.
“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
It’s understood the monarch has now taken control of the situation and will reach out to Meghan and Harry personally.
But William is said to be “beyond livid” by the interview.
During the chat, Harry said he feels let down by his family – and is barely speaking to his brother, describing their relationship now as “space”.
He claimed his father Charles stopped taking his calls after Megxit and was financially cut off by the Royal Family last year.
The Duke said there was a “lot of hurt” between him and his dad – but insisted he had not “blindsided” the Queen when announcing he and Meghan were stepping back as senior working royals.
He also discussed his relationship with William, saying he loved him “to bits” but he and the future king were “on different paths”.
But he said he believes William and Charles are “trapped” by the monarchy.
The 36-year-old dad said: “I myself was trapped as well, I didn’t see a way out.
“I was trapped but I didn’t know I was trapped. My father and my brother – they are trapped. They don’t get to leave and I have huge compassion for that.”
On Tuesday, Prince Charles was asked about the interview as he was seen for the first time since it aired.
When asked by a reporter what he thought of the chat, Charles, who was visiting an NHS vaccine centre in London, gave a nervous chuckle and carried on walking.
But according to a friend of the prince, Charles was “in a state of despair” before the conversation was screened, Vanity Fair reports.
