Before she even married Prince Harry, Meghan Markle found herself front and center at one of the most important royal events—the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.
It was just a month before their wedding, and while most brides-to-be are busy with fittings and final details, Meghan was stepping onto the world stage.
For royal watchers, her early involvement came as a surprise.
Traditionally, someone not yet married into the Royal Family wouldn’t play such a visible role.
But Meghan was already showing signs of doing things differently.
A Small Slip, A Big Signal
During the event, cameras caught a subtle but telling moment between Meghan and Harry.
Meghan appeared to walk slightly ahead of him, something that doesn’t align with strict royal protocol.
At one point, Harry even bumped into her while reaching out to shake hands. He quickly stepped back, apologized, and allowed Meghan to take the lead.
According to body language expert Judi James, that small interaction revealed something much larger.
Rather than Harry inducting Meghan into royal tradition, Meghan seemed to be guiding Harry into a more modern, non-royal way of moving through the world.
Body Language Insights
Judi explained that Harry had long been the star of his own show, with a personal brand tied to military strength and cheeky humor.
But Meghan, a seasoned actress, arrived with her own set of skills—confidence, charisma, and ease in the spotlight.
“Even in a few moments of clumsy overlaps and corrections, Meghan’s social confidence glowed while Harry’s insecurities peeked through,” Judi observed.
Meghan, who had been married before and had years of experience on television, appeared comfortable with shared public dynamics.
Harry, by contrast, seemed to be figuring out how to synchronize himself with her.
The Confidence Divide
As the couple moved from group to group, Meghan often took the lead in conversation.
Her natural ability to command attention was clear, with animated gestures, raised brows, and an engaging style that held people’s interest.
Harry, meanwhile, sometimes displayed small signs of nervousness—blinking rapidly, clasping his wrist, or hesitating before stepping forward.
At one point, Meghan even used a subtle hand gesture to stop Harry from moving ahead of her, signaling that she intended to greet the next group first.
Harry responded by stepping back, adopting a gallant, old-fashioned gesture to let her pass.
A Pattern That Continued
These early glimpses into their public dynamic didn’t stop at CHOGM.
During their first overseas visit to Dublin in July 2018, body language experts noticed the same choreography—Meghan leading with confidence while Harry played catch-up.
What many assumed at the time was a new bride learning from her experienced royal husband was, in hindsight, the opposite.
Meghan was the one setting the pace.
Meghan in the Spotlight
Fast forward to April this year, and that same pattern resurfaced at the Time 100 Summit in New York.
Meghan was front and center, speaking with assurance, while Harry stood by looking supportive but, at times, awkward.
Meghan’s half-brother, Tom Jr., even remarked that she had “always been the center of attention” and carried a “star quality” that naturally placed her in the spotlight.
A Different Kind of Royal Partnership
From the very beginning, Meghan’s presence seemed to shift Harry’s role.
Rather than taking charge as the seasoned royal, he often deferred to her charisma and confidence.
Even before she officially became a Duchess, Meghan was stepping into center stage, and Harry was learning to follow her lead.
