Harry and Meghan's 'overkill' BBQ stop proves he's ready to 'drop royal image'

09 March 2024 , 17:50

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Prince Harry is reportedly ready to 'drop is royal image' (Image: La Barbecue)

While in Texas for the SXSW Festival, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a pit stop at Austin's La Barbecue.

During the visit, they posed for pictures with the owner Alison Clem. They stood on either side of Alison as they wrapped her up in a tight squeeze. Body language expert Judi James told The Mirror exclusively that the "exaggerated announcement gesturing" is "overkill" more akin to a "family gathering" as opposed to a BBQ restaurant.

She also claimed that it's a sign that Harry is ready to "drop his royal image."

READ MORE:Meghan Markle's feminist SXSW speech in full from 'cruel' cyberbullying to Prince Harry shoutout

Meghan and Harry met with BBQ owner Alison Clem (La Barbecue)

Judi explained: "Harry and Meghan’s hugs here look almost like overkill rituals, performed with exaggerated announcement gesturing and then being close enough and long enough in duration to suggest they’re at a family gathering rather than a trip to a BBQ joint."

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She then compared their tight hug to one given by "family groups at airports."

"Meghan is first in with the approach, holding a hooked arm out to announce the form of hug she is offering. Harry throws both arms out and performs an enveloping, encircling hug that is extended in time to look like the kind of ‘welcome home’ hugs you normally see in family groups at airports," she added.

Harry meanwhile, showed that he can fit in with the "normal working folk" as he had "broad smiles" and was in a "relaxed state of enthusiasm."

"When the pose for a photo the owner is placed in a hug sandwich with Meghan on one side and Harry on the other, arms around them and broad smiles in place. Harry especially looks as though he is keen to drop his ‘royal’ image for a while and signal he is capable of joining in with normal working folk in a state of relaxed enthusiasm," she shared.

This comes as Meghan made a keynote at the SXSW festival. She joined journalist Katie Couric, actress Brooke Shields and diversity equity and inclusion consultant at Peoplism, Nancy Wang Yuen. Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast, moderated the session.

During the speech, Meghan touched on "catty" and "cruel" cyberbullies as well as taking a stand against a sexist commercial when she was just 11 years old and championing new mothers.

However, just after claiming that new mothers are "really vulnerable," an excerpt from Prince Harry's memoir resurfaced in which she reportedly told Kate Middleton she had "baby brain." Kate was reportedly offended, as she told Meghan that they were "not close enough" to talk about her "hormones" and allegedly demanded an apology.

Natalie Hunter