Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s secret sign of ‘frustration’ during NBA date night – exclusive

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle displayed a secret sign of “frustration” during their NBA All-Star date night over the weekend, an expert has revealed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were pictured courtside at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Sunday night, looking more loved-up than ever to mark Valentine’s weekend. Their appearance was characterised by wide smiles and moments of subtle affection, such as Meghan whispering in her husband’s ear or holding onto his arm for support. 

Body language expert Inbaal Honigman tells HELLO! that Meghan’s smile was “perfectly lovely”, adding: “Her cheeks are raised and rounded, which creates a full-face smile.” However, although the couple looked completely “aligned” during their appearance, she revealed a subtle detail that showed the couple wasn’t as at ease as they seemed. 

Inbaal pointed out that both Harry and Meghan appeared to be holding onto their own wrists, showing signs of “tension”, perhaps due to the large crowds and attention from the cameras. 

She explained: “Something new happened on this date – Harry and Meghan both used the same non-verbal gesture at the same time! Harry’s hand holds on to his other wrist, and Meghan does the exact same gesture. This move, of holding one’s own wrist, signifies a desire to restrain oneself, and is also a self-soothing gesture. Both of them are showing some frustration, as if there’s something they want to do but they can’t.”

At another point, Harry was seen “curling his fingers”, a hand gesture that also suggested the presence of “tension”. Inbaal noted that the gesture was subtly different from usual, as Harry and Meghan usually act “independently from one another even when close together” and display different body language. 

Date night for Harry and Meghan

The couple was seated alongside a lively group of fellow guests, including Queen Latifah and her family, adding to the buzzy atmosphere of the night. At one point, Meghan, 44, clasped her hands together and beamed toward the court, while Harry looked on proudly, clearly enjoying the shared experience.

© Getty Images

They clearly enjoy attending a sporting event as their choice of date night and attended the World Series together back in November, wearing matching Los Angeles Dodgers baseball caps. 

Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020 and moved to the US that year. They now live in Montecito, California, with their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.