The exact moment ‘awkward’ Prince Harry became Meghan Markle’s ‘spare’, according to a body language expert

PRINCE Harry has spoken about being harshly labelled a ‘Spare’ next to his heir brother Prince William.

However, a body language expert has claimed the Duke of Sussex is now playing second fiddle in his relationship with Meghan Markle too.

Judi James said there was even a specific moment in which she took on a less dominant role in the relationship.

Speaking to Fabulous, she claimed: “Their cover of Time Magazine seems to provide a perfect illustration of their status fluctuations and a powerhouse moment when Harry was quite openly (and presumably compliantly) posing as Meghan’s ‘Spare’.

“The power signals on this Time magazine cover shot are only marginally less surprising than Harry’s apparently relaxed and agreeable approach to being posed looking like a ‘Plus one’. 

“It’s been described as a pose that is reminiscent of a hairdresser showing off his handiwork to the camera, with the celebrity client being the star.”

Judi pointed out that Meghan dominates nearly two thirds of this cover photo and said her white outfit effortlessly upstages Harry’s plain black ensemble. 

She added: “Meghan’s legs are splayed in a power pose while Harry seems to have one leg gone AWOL [absence without leave]. 

“Meghan’s hair is also fanned out, with ‘big hair’ being associated with power and strength, and the upturned V gap under her armpits signals confidence.

“Harry’s pose looks capricious as he part hides behind his wife, leaning into the shot with an awkwardly-placed hand on her shoulder.”

Despite the imbalance in the photo, the body language expert said both Meghan and Harry have the potential to be the “alpha” in the relationship.

She added: “In the ‘rock-paper-scissors’ hierarchical debate when it’s a UK royal title versus a Hollywood profile though, who comes out on top in terms of alpha status signals?

“Harry grew up as the royal spare but he still basked in his royal status as a prince, as well as enjoying high levels of public popularity, and that would have led him to expect to be the centre of attention in any room without any need to flex rank.”

The body language pro argued that the Duke of Sussex’s move to the US – which is a “royal-free zone” – should have meant he could set up his own alternative “kingdom” without playing second fiddle to anyone.

Judi continued: “Ironically though, Harry seems to have almost replicated his ‘Spare’ role with Meghan in a way that seems to endorse the theory that humans will seek out the comfort of the familiar even if that familiar state was causing us grief in the first place.

“Harry must have known he was punching in several ways when he married Meghan. 

“She is a powerful, confident stage speaker while he still appears to suffer from nerves. 

“She is naturally adept socially, where Harry can be awkward and is clearly used to being shepherded around by staff. 

“Meghan worked her way up to being able to command a room or sizzle on a red carpet but Harry has only done it because of his royal title.

“What we’ve seen as a result of this nature v nurture status imbalance is that while Meghan acts as host and sometime leader now, continuing her own solid career trajectory as a powerhouse campaigner, Harry has needed to melt into a plus one or ‘Spare’ role at times.”

Harry’s Spare claims

Prince Harry named his bombshell memoir Spare after claiming his father King Charles telling Diana that Harry’s birth was wonderful but now he had an heir and a spare “his work was done.”

The Duke claims Meghan refuted the idea in Spare, and wrote him a poignant message following the birth of their daughter Lilibet.

He wrote: “She jotted some thoughts in a kind of journal. Which she shared. I read them as a love poem. 

“I read them as a testament, a renewal of our vows.

“I read them as a citation, a remembrance, a proclamation. I read them as a decree. 

“She said: That was everything. She said: That is a man. My love. She said: That is not a Spare.”