Meghan Markle made a solo appearance on the red carpet last night, and body language experts noted that she appeared “lost” without Prince Harry by her side. The Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 attended the gala to support LA Children’s Hospital, expressing her happiness to be part of the event.

 

Dressed in a striking scarlet Carolina Herrera gown, which she previously wore in 2021, Markle exuded effortless chic with her beachy waves. She was accompanied on the carpet by Kelly McKee Zajfen, co-founder of the Alliance of Moms, an LA-based organization supporting pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system.

 

In recent weeks, the Duke and Duchess have been pursuing separate engagements, with Harry taking solo trips to London and Lesotho, indicating a shift in their public appearances.

 

 

But according to Judi James, a body language expert, Meghan gave off a ‘shy’ and ‘coy’ vibe at the event when she was snapped solo at the event.

 

She told FEMAIL: ‘For a confident woman who is used to cameras and red carpets she acts grateful to see and join her friend here. The body language ritual that she follows seems to be deliberate signalling of her current state as Harry is off on his solo tour.

 

‘Meghan performs signals of coyness and even shyness plus a subliminal desire to have someone take over the lead from Harry, as though she is somehow lost without him on the red carpet or wanting to suggest she is feeling more vulnerable and girlishly playful than usual.’

 

Meghan was filmed appearing to nervously twiddle her fingers as she walked along the red carpet, with photographers shouting her name.

 

But as she approached the end, ready to move on, a woman dressed in black directed her towards Kelly, as she rushed to greet her friend, publicly.

 

One photographer can be heard saying: ‘Ladies, can we start you at the beginning please?’

 

The former senior working royal was seen holding her friend’s hand and seemingly wanted to step away from the cameras as soon as she could.

 

At one point, someone could be heard saying: ‘Ladies, together.’ While another shouted: ‘Can we get all the smiles?’

 

The mother-of-two then stepped back towards Kelly and ‘shyly’ leaned in towards her while beaming for the cameras.

 

 

 

 

 

Judi said: ‘Meghan places her hand under her friend’s hand in the clasp here, which signifies letting the other person take the lead. She then pulls her friend’s arm in front of her own torso like a protective barrier as though she’s feeling shy in front of the press.’

 

‘She then adopts a more coyly shy look, almost swinging from her friend’s hand like a small child.

 

‘She moves behind her friend, again in a simulation of shyness or coyness, pushing their heads close so they can smile and giggle together like teenagers. She even gets an “Aw!” from the photographers.

 

‘Even as Meghan walks away from the pose she lifts her right shoulder to smile over it at the camera in another signal of sweetness and coyness.’

 

Meghan then greeted Paul Viviano, a health care leader and a national children’s health care advocate, giving him a warm hug after posing with Kelly.

 

She could be heard saying: ‘Of course, it’s my pleasure,’ before gesturing that they should have some photos taken together, stepping back into the limelight.

 

However, she was guided by snappers and told to stay put, as the duo smiled with their wrapped arms around each other.

 

Judi added: ‘Hugging Paul Viviano she performs an elongated, affectionate, friends hug that involves conversation as he seems to whisper into her ear.

 

‘She makes an attempt to lead by directing them further up the red carpet but her expression remains amiable when she is told by the press to remain where she is.’

 

The Duchess appeared to venture more into her boho California side with her appearance at the gala yesterday evening.

 

 

 

During her recent solo appearance on the red carpet, Meghan Markle opted for a more natural look, departing from her usual sleek, straightened hairstyles or structured waves. With minimal makeup—just a touch of lip gloss and mascara—she allowed her complexion to shine.

 

Markle previously wore her eye-catching red Carolina Herrera gown at a 2021 gala in New York City, honoring the military on the eve of Veterans Day in the US and Armistice Day in Britain. However, body language expert Judi observed that Markle has transformed the gown into a more ‘Hollywood’ look this time around, appearing more like a starlet than a royal.

 

Judi noted that Meghan’s solo appearance sent strong non-verbal signals. The bold red dress, previously presented with a regal aesthetic alongside Prince Harry, was now styled for a sleeker, 𝓈ℯ𝓍ier impact. Without the train, the gown emphasized its neckline and hemline, showcasing a more relaxed silhouette.

 

Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her posture exuded confidence, resembling a Hollywood starlet rather than a royal spouse. In front of the photographers, she arched her back slightly, accentuating the plunging neckline, a stark contrast to her earlier, more demure royal presence.

 

 

 

‘Her head tilts as she poses here are a signal of a desire to be likable and she looks very amenable to the press, taking guidance and requests from them with a keen smile.’

 

Meghan greeted the young fans before preparing for a star-studded night featuring a performance by Demi Lovato and appearances by presenters Kaley Cuoco, Jamie Lee Curtis and Colin Hanks.

 

Meghan was heard saying: ‘The work that they do otherworldly,’ speaking about the LA Children’s Hospital.

 

‘And I think from my standpoint as a mother no one wants to be in a position where you need to go to a place like this – but if you have to, the best place in the world you could go would be Children’s Hospital LA.

 

‘And I have close friends who still have their children there going through treatments either from high school, close mom friends now that are having their children.’

 

 

Meghan – who shares Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, with the Duke of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍, said that ‘the staff is incredible’.

 

She added: ‘The amount of work that they do for families that could really not afford this level of care is something that I think should never be overlooked’.

 

Elsewhere at the event, she enjoyed a sweet moment as she told a young boy ‘it’s past your bedtime’.

 

Footage shows the Duchess greeting a family at last night’s event before joking to a little boy about being up so late.

 

‘It’s past your bedtime for sure,’ Megan said as she addressed the child, who was being held by his mother.

 

She added: ‘How old are they? Oh so really close to our kids. Three and five.’

 

Meghan has often spoken about her experiences with motherhood.

 

In May, she said she fulfilled her dream of becoming a parent as she opened up about her ‘very chatty, sweet children’ during the second day of her Nigerian tour with Harry.

 

The Duchess was speaking at a Women in Leadership event she was co-hosting with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation.

 

Meghan told the audience how much she loves being a mother but admitted that balancing her family and her career posed its own set of challenges.

 

 

 

 

 

During a recent panel discussion, Meghan Markle shared her thoughts on balancing motherhood with her career, expressing her joy in being a mother. “I love being a mum,” she stated, reflecting on the evolving nature of her priorities.

 

Despite being advised over a decade ago by a friend and mentor that she would struggle to balance the demands of motherhood and her work, Meghan emphasized that her understanding of “balance” has transformed. She noted that what felt balanced ten years ago, before her marriage and the births of her children, Archie and Lilibet, has shifted significantly.

 

“What I think that to mean now is that that balance will always change for you,” she explained, highlighting the fluidity of her priorities over the years.

 

Meghan’s solo appearance comes amid Prince Harry’s busy schedule, as he has undertaken ten solo engagements in the past 15 days, including a “quasi-royal tour” across New York, London, and Lesotho. Reports also indicated that Meghan was unable to attend a charity event with Harry due to feeling “sick.”