Meghan Markle’s latest appearance in London has sparked interest after a body language expert examined footage of the Duchess of Sussex sharing what appeared to be an intense conversation with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
The Duchess, 45, was filmed dining with the 29-year-old education activist at Claridge’s in Mayfair on Wednesday. Dressed in a simple white top, with her hair styled in her signature low bun, Meghan appeared focused as the two women leaned towards one another across the table.
Their understated appearance stood out for its serious tone, prompting body language specialist Judi James to offer her interpretation of the encounter in an exclusive assessment for the Daily Express.
Meghan Markle was out and about in London (Image: Getty)
Body Language Expert Examines Meghan’s Behaviour
James suggested that Meghan’s seating position and posture offered clues about the nature of the conversation.
“Meghan is seated facing the room here in this booth, although this choice of seating facing outward could have been a courtesy to Malala, who has a very high public profile herself,” she explained.
Rather than appearing relaxed and focused on their meal, the two women seemed absorbed in their discussion.
“The body language looks low-key as the two women lean in together rather than sitting back and relaxing, and Meghan appears to have both arms on the table, lightly folded,” James observed.
Malala Yousafzai is a female activist (Image: Getty)
She suggested that their posture indicated a conversation that went beyond an ordinary social dinner.
“This suggests a point where they were less about eating any food and more about what looks like quite an important and intense conversation.”
According to James, the interaction appeared thoughtful and composed, with both women seemingly concentrating on the subject at hand.
“It looks deep and calm, as though the two women, who share the trait of very serious campaigning, are perhaps discussing world issues rather than just enjoying the proverbial ‘girls’ night out’, which might normally see more relaxed and playful-looking body language poses.”
Her assessment offered one interpretation of the footage, although body language alone cannot establish what the pair were discussing or what either woman was thinking.
Meghan and Malala Share a Longstanding Connection
The dinner was not the first time Meghan and Malala had come together to discuss issues close to their hearts.
The pair first met virtually on October 11, 2020, during a conversation marking the International Day of the Girl. The discussion was streamed by the Malala Fund, the organisation founded by Malala to support girls’ education.
During their conversation, they explored the systemic barriers that prevent millions of girls around the world from accessing education.
The subject has long been important to Meghan, who has repeatedly expressed an interest in advancing opportunities for women and girls.
Malala, meanwhile, became internationally recognised for her advocacy for girls’ education in Pakistan. She made history in 2014 when, aged 17, she became the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Their shared interest in education and advocacy provides a broader context for their latest meeting, although the specific subject of their private dinner has not been confirmed.
A Private Appearance That Has Drawn Public Interest
Meghan’s dinner with Malala is the latest in a series of private appearances that have attracted attention since her reported return to the UK in the summer.
While the footage showed the Duchess maintaining a composed demeanour throughout the meal, James’s analysis focused on the apparent seriousness of the exchange rather than suggesting any obvious signs of tension between the women.
Their close seating position and forward-leaning posture, in the expert’s view, were consistent with two people engaged in a meaningful discussion.
Ultimately, the encounter offered a glimpse of Meghan and Malala together away from a formal public engagement. Whether they were discussing girls’ education, wider global issues or another shared interest remains unknown, but their longstanding connection provides a clear reason for the meeting to attract attention.