Meghan Markle‘s body language has been assessed countless times since she entered the royal family – and perhaps even more so since she and Prince Harry stepped down as senior royals in 2020.
And now, eagle-eyed fans think they’ve spotted a recurring gesture she used in Australia last month that she may have relied on several times in the past, which they are interpreting as a subtle form of “control.” Keep reading to find out more…
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Social Media Analyzes Meghan Markle's Arm Tap
In a clip posted on X with the caption, "The one-finger tap Meghan Markle does on top of people's hands," the former Suits star, 44, can be seen chatting to people at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne during her and Prince Harry's controversial trip to Australia last month.
In the middle of the interaction, she appears to briefly tap the hand of the person she's speaking to with just one finger during the conversation. Just moments later, the exchange ends and she is guided away.
Some social media users believe the gesture isn't accidental, as they think the light tap is a subtle cue to either signal that the conversation needs to wrap up, or prompting the other person to hurry up and move things along so she can continue down the line or exit the situation entirely.
The moment in Australia is not the only time the move has been noticed, either. In the comment section of the aforementioned X post, some users pointed out that she has used a similar gesture on at least two other occasions: once with King Charles while he was walking her down the aisle at the royal wedding in 2018, and again with Kate Middleton during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.
"To me it's symbolic of her need to control... 'I have the upper hand, and this is a little reminder to let you know, I run the show,'" one X user commented on the post.
Fan Comments
"I'm going to say it's just another way she tries to control people and/or show dominance. I don't think I ever seen anybody that has as many tics and tells as Duchess Doom," echoed a second, as a third concurred: "Assuming complete control of the moment." "I think it's a sign of control," wrote a fourth in agreement.
"This is a control thing if you [watch] world leaders, they do it," observed a fifth. "It's a power move!" exclaimed a sixth. "It says, 'I'm in control here,'" noted a seventh. "She's a control freak and so obnoxious!" criticized an eighth, as a ninth added: "A control and dominance technique."
"She actually thinks she is above everyone," slammed a tenth, as an eleventh added: "That is one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen in a vast universe of bizarre body language."
