Meghan Markle was 'practical' yet 'emotional' as she and Prince Harry visited survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires, a body language expert has claimed.
The royal couple, who live near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles away from LA, were seen comforting victims as they handed out food parcels with Jennifer Newsom at the Pasadena Convention Centre, which is being used as an evacuation centre, on Friday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stood next to the wife of the Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom, before personally meeting with survivors of the wildfires and handing out food packages.
Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James said that Meghan balanced a 'practical' approach of 'getting stuck in' with being more 'tactile' by sharing an 'emotionally intense hug'.
While Judi emphasised Meghan's 'natural' approach, she added that Harry seemed slightly more out of place, with his body language 'mirroring' his wife's to demonstrate his slight discomfort.
Judi said: 'We can see Meghan in particular in two body language modes and functions here: firstly what would be termed "getting stuck in", physically helping out with food distribution and doing so in a way that seems to have rendered herself incognito.
'The "head-down" body language from Meghan here looks practical rather than performative, implying that the job of distribution is better achieved without a media scrum or being made to stop and talk.'
Meanwhile, Judi told The Mirror that Harry and Meghan's approach made them appear as the 'US version' of the royals.
She added that the couple then became 'more tactile' as they assisted food organisers - though Meghan appeared more 'natural' than her husband.
Speaking to Femail, she added: 'The couple use active listening and mirroring signals here and when Meghan seems to spot the woman she is talking to is removing her glasses to appear to become more emotional.
'She tunes in with her lips clamped in an expression of sympathy and she moves in to offer one of her hugs, placing her head on the woman's shoulder to increase the emotional intensity of the hug.
'Harry seems to mirror his wife with some of the touch rituals, placing his hand onto arms and shoulders, although it's Meghan who looks the more natural with the more intense touch rituals.'
Finally, Judi said the couple's exit from the scene was also 'sympathetic and supportive', while feeling they'd 'done their bit' through their visit.
Judi concluded: 'The hugging and touching looks both sympathetic and supportive before the casually dressed couple go off hand in hand, presumably feeling that they have 'done their bit' in some way in this tragic, ongoing disaster.'
The fires that have ravaged the city have killed 16 people and burned through almost 14,000 acres. Around 4,000 to 5,000 structures have also been damaged or destroyed including the homes of Hollywood A-listers.
US President Joe Biden has chillingly predicting the death toll is likely to rise after he described the terrifying situation as 'like a war scene'.
LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone has warned high winds and low humidity means the fire threat will remain high until Wednesday.
Meghan and Harry were spotted hugging their 'favourite' celebrity chef José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, who has teamed up with the couple through their Archewell Foundation since 2020, which is distributing free hot meals to the public and emergency crews in the wake of the wildfires.
The Duchess shared a lemon olive oil cake recipe to Andrés' The World Central Kitchen: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope in 2023.
Meghan, who was dressed in a light blue shirt and blue LA baseball cap, and Harry, who donned a black baseball cap and black polo shirt, also took time to speak with the Mayor of Pasadena Victor Gordo.
The couple were keen to provide any support they could, according to the Mayor, saying they were 'great people' with 'great personalities'.
'They really buoyed the spirits of the first responders. We visited the command post at the Rose Bowl and people were very happy to see them,' the Mayor added.
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It comes ahead of the premiere on Wednesday, January 15, of the Duchess's new Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan.
The interaction was broadcast live on Fox News, with news anchor Susan Hirasuna later being slammed online for describing Meghan as 'Princess Markle'. She also received criticism for saying Meghan was 'hanging out with the commoners'.
Speaking to Fox News, Mayor Gordo said: 'They (Harry and Meghan) want to be as helpful as they can be and really they just want to be supportive.'
He added that the couple visited some of the burnt out houses in Pasadena and Altadena and spoke to those who had lost their homes.
'They took the time to meet the people who were affected and spend time. They are just very caring people who are very concerned for their friends and neighbours,' the Mayor said.
Ms Hirasuna then asked: 'I saw Meghan Markle stoop down and take the lid off of a plastic bin. Do they want to really get down and dirty?'
Mayor Gordo replied saying the couple 'were not here for publicity, they came out here to work'.
He said Harry and Meghan made an earlier appearance at the centre on the same day, during which they were 'anonymously' serving food to victims who were unable to recognise the pair with their masks on.
'We went to visit some of the families in the impacted area and view firsthand some of the impacted area and then they wanted to go visit the first responders and personally thank them for their efforts to help our families and their neighbors,' the Mayor added.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California's First Partner, was also pictured speaking to the couple along with Chef Andrés.
Earlier in the broadcast, Ms Hirasuna described Meghan as 'Princess Meghan', which led to some disgruntled viewers to criticise her reporting.
Many took to social media to point out her mistake, clarifying that Meghan is the Duchess of Sussex, rather than a Princess.
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Earlier in the broadcast, Ms Hirasuna described Meghan as 'Princess Meghan', which led to some disgruntled viewers to criticise her reporting.
One person YouTube saying: 'Dear Ma'am, Markel is not a princess. She is a duchess and not allowed to use the title. Just FYI.'
Another commenter added: 'AGAIN SHES NOT A PRINCESS!!!', while a third wrote: 'Stop calling her Princess, that's not her title!'
Elsewhere on Instagram, users described the coverage as cringe, after Ms Hirasuna also said the couple was 'hanging out with the commoners'.
One person wrote: 'Absolute cringeworthy - the newscaster. Princess. Commoners. Geez.'
Another person added: 'I imagine Harry & Meghan are very moved by the deviation (sic) so close to home. The commentators coverage of this is extremely cringe.'
A third person also criticised Ms Hirasuna for making the 'rude remark'.
