EXCLUSIVE Meghan's 'complex' reaction to the success of her 'good friend' Serena Williams: Body language expert claims Duchess expresses 'concealed emotions' when talking about her pal
Meghan Markle had a 'complex' reaction to a comment about her 'good friend' Serena Williams ' entrepreneurial success, a body language expert has revealed.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, 'made an attempt to conceal' her true emotions when her friend and fellow podcaster Emma Grede praised the 23-time Grand Slam winner during a recent interview.
British-born businesswoman Emma - who is the co-founder of Kim Kardashian 's billion-dollar Skims brand - spoke to Meghan about launching her lifestyle firm As Ever during the most recent episode of her Aspire podcast.
At one point, Emma asked the Duchess if there was 'anything you would do differently' when it came to shaping public opinion, Meghan made what appeared to be a dig at the Royal Family and said she would 'ask people to tell the truth'.
She then proceeded to 'name-drop' Serena, 43, body language expert Judi James told MailOnline, but appeared to 'struggle a little' when Emma brought up the former tennis star's business acumen that has led to her amassing a $350 million fortune.
According to Judi, Meghan begins her response to Emma's question about the public narrative by 'referring to "My dear friend Serena..."' while signalling a segment of 'verbal stroking' for one of her most famous pals.
The body language expert suggested Meghan wears a 'coyly smug smile' before she 'works the name-drop by using a throwaway hand gesture' before averting her eyes to with an 'even coyer smile '.
It is not unlike the ritual Meghan performs when talking about her husband, Prince Harry, as she uses these 'micro-gestures' to reiterate she's talking about 'very famous people who are close to her'.
However, her usual style was disturbed when Emma interrupted Meghan to gush about her 'girl crush' Serena - and comparing her to Meghan in the process - triggering her to respond with a forced 'holding pose' to convey 'you don't normally interrupt a guest'.
Judi added: 'Her comment of agreement with Emma's "successful entrepereneur" praise for Serena comes with some incongruent-looking facial movements.'
She noted how Meghan's eyes 'close fully here' and 'her lower jaw performs a micro-jut' before explaining these are indicators of 'complex emotional responses' that could be in response either to being cut short by Emma or 'the subject matter' - that is, Serena's success.
'When Meghan looks downward and her jaw juts slightly, we can see a deliberate or subconscious hiding of her thoughts, with the jaw-jut suggesting a sense of determination,' Judi continued.
When world leaders like US president Donald Trump perform it, Judi added, this is often a 'signal of powering-up and showing denial'.
Her eyelid flutter 'can also be an eye stutter', Judi concluded.
'It can suggest inner conflict when someone wants to look open, but feels impelled to conceal their eyes.'
The awkward moment occurred as Meghan appeared to take a thinly veiled swipe at the Royal Family when she pointedly said she wanted people to 'tell the truth' about her.
It came after Emma asked the Duchess what she would do 'if you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch'.
Meghan wore a determined look and replied: 'Yes, I would ask people to tell the truth'.
Ms Gerde said Meghan must feel 'angry' to have people 'lying about [her] all the time'. Meghan said that she dealt with this by remembering advice from her friend, tennis champion Serena Williams.
'My dear friend Serena, she told me years ago, "A lie can't live forever".'
Meghan then laughed and said pointedly 'Eight years is a long time, but not forever' - in a presumed nod to the period when she first began dating Harry, now 40.
She then described fame as having 'peaks and valleys' and claims she has survived with 'a lot of self work' as well as de-stressing by spending time with her children, hiking and 'date nights' with Harry.
There was also a subtle dig at royal life where she described times in her life where she 'wasn't as empowered with my voice', but said of her return to Instagram, which she left when she became a royal: 'It was a great way to get my voice back.'
Meghan and Serena have enjoyed a close relationship for many years, with the tennis legend attending the royal wedding in 2018.
They first crossed paths at the 2010 Super Bowl, when the New Orleans Saints took on the Indianapolis Colts, before reuniting for a Celebrity Beach Bowl tournament - where they 'immediately' hit it off.
Writing on her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, Meghan shared: 'We hit if off immediately.
'Taking pictures, laughing theough the flag flootball game we were both playing in, and chatting...
'Not about tennis or acting, but about all the good, old-fashioned girly stuff.'
They have remained close over the years, with Meghan and Serena publicly supporting each other through their successes and setbacks alike.
Serena was the first guest on Meghan's Spotify podcast Archetypes, which was eventually cancelled by the audio streaming giant after just one season.
Recalling their first meeting, Meghan said: 'I show up and I see you walking toward someone. I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh, who is Serena Williams going to talk to?
'I looked behind me and when I turned around, you were there right in front of me... We became such fast friends.'
Serena, who has now retired from tennis, explained during the first episode of the series that she is 'super loyal, to a fault' after being 'friends for so long' with the Duchess.
According to Mark Hodgkinson in Serena: A Graphic Biography of the Greatest Tennis Champion, the women's friendship quickly evolved through frequent phone calls and texts.
Serena was one of the first people to defend Meghan following a backlash after her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
In a statement on Twitter after the interview aired, Williams described her as a 'selfless friend' who 'teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble'.
'Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she's experienced,' Williams wrote.
In March, Meghan documented an afternoon of playing board games with her daughter Princess Lilibet, three, and 'Auntie' Serena - ahead of the release of her Netflix special.
Meghan posted a clip on her Instagram of the trio to the backdrop of Bill Withers' Lovely Day as she wrote: 'When the aunties come to celebrate... and to play! Love you @serenawilliams.'
Last April, Serena was spotted enjoying a glass of champagne as she supported Meghan at Prince Harry's Netflix polo match.
The Grand Slam champion was seen giggling and gossiping with the Duchess on the sidelines of the Sentebale Polo Cup in Miami, Florida.
Meghan's appearance on Emma's podcast came one day before she revealed the date for her new set of As Ever products.
The Duchess Of Sussex, 43, took to Instagram on Monday evening to tease the 'delicious surprises' that will be in store during the second launch of her lifestyle brand.
And she revealed that the products - which will also include previous 'favourites' - will be back even sooner than previously thought, with the restock going live on Friday, June 20 at 8am.
The first batch of products - comprising teas and jam - sold out within an hour of the website going live in March.
Just a few weeks prior, the mother-of two had hinted that she might never restock her jam in an interview with a US business magazine which said she was planning to 'step back to assess' her brand.
In the interview - given to coincide with the final episode of Confessions of a Female Founder - the Fast Company said Meghan wanted to 'step back, gather data from the launch, and figure out exactly what As Ever could be.'
Meghan also revealed the surprising turn As Ever could take - hinting at a future step into the fashion industry - but said for now she is planning to launch a new range of merchandise in early 2026.
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