Meghan Markle has been caught in an ‘awkward trophy move’ as she directed the head of a charity match to step away from Prince Harry.
The Duchess of Sussex took on the director’s role during a Sentebale polo match earlier this month.
The Duke and Duchess were in Miami for the fundraising polo match, where they shared a public kiss.
The couple reportedly had a film crew with them, capturing moments for their upcoming Netflix projects, one of which is centred around polo.
The annual Sentebale Polo Cup raises funds for Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry in 2006. For this event, Harry led the Royal Salute Sentebale Team against the Grand Champions Team, securing a triumphant 3-1 victory.
His wife presented him with the trophy, leading to an awkward moment on stage.
Footage from the event shared on social media shows Meghan asking Dr Chandauka, the head of the charity match, to move to the centre of the group and away from Prince Harry. This allowed Meghan to stand next to her husband, reports the Mirror.
In a video clip circulating online, Harry can be seen keeping his arm around Meghan as she speaks to Dr Chandauka, seemingly insisting that she stand next to him for the photo opportunity.
Body language expert Judi James has given her take on the awkward moment that had everyone talking.
“Meghan will know all about framing a good shot for the cameras and so it might not be surprising if she had possibly felt compelled to do so here,” Judi told the Mirror.
She continued: “She and Harry are producing a Netflix show and her role as director might easily have led her to move this woman about like an extra on a film set.
“Or perhaps she was just being friendly and wanting to make the woman feel more comfortable next to her where she would be under Meghan’s wing.”
Judi also pointed out Meghan’s concerned expression as the woman took to the stage and positioned herself beside Harry, with her hands on the trophy.
She added: “Meghan is ushering another woman into the line-up but her eyes are on the first one.
“This is Harry’s victory scene and he and Meghan have performed their romantic kiss perfectly. Meghan seems to urge the woman across to stand in the gap next to her but when the woman does finally get the hint she needs to do a very awkward duck and under-arm movement to get to where Meghan has decided she should be.”
Judi observed that there was an absence of “warm, fond, connecting smiles or acts of close friendship from Meghan” towards the woman in the footage.
However, she noted: “Like any good director/star Meghan just seems to want to get on with the shot, beaming at Harry and posing beautifully and happily for the camera.”
