Meghan Markle's lingering hug with Malala on the steps of Claridge's, coupled with her £25,000 outfit, was all designed to draw attention to her first public appearance in the UK since the Queen's funeral, experts have claimed.
asserted
experts → linger → funeral
Body language analyst Judi James said the former actress was playing the role of the 'gracious duchess' during what she described as an 'intentionally intense' and 'dramatic' embrace with the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
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she → say → winner
Ms James also argued that Meghan adopted a 'classic upmarket catalogue model pose' for the big goodbye - but Malala appeared noticeably less at ease - in a hug outside the door to ensure they were 'spotted'.
Meanwhile, leading PR expert Mark Borkowski suggested Meghan had deliberately placed herself in the limelight with her meeting with Malala at one of London's most famous lunch venues.
uncertain
Meghan → argue → venues
He also suggested Claridge's and its privacy-conscious VIP clientele may be unhappy with the 'pantomime' surrounding the pair's afternoon tea.
uncertain
Claridge → suggest → tea
Meghan and Malala were filmed and photographed enjoying tea and scones in the world-famous Foyer & Reading Room.
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Meghan → film → Foyer
Rather than saying goodbye inside the five-star hotel, Meghan, dressed in an outfit reportedly worth £25,000, shared a lengthy and affectionate farewell hug with Malala on the steps outside, where photographers captured the moment.
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photographers → say → moment
Ms James said: 'The steps outside Claridge's must be one of London's most high-profile spots and it's when Meghan's "gracious duchess" ritual of splaying and coat-flapping would ensure that if she hadn't already been spotted, that glamorous tan cape coat, fully extended like wings, would be sure to do the trick in drawing attention.
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coat → say → attention
'Meghan is proud to be seen with the amazing, heroic Malala here as she uses her body language to define that "gracious duchess" style of friendship.
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she → see → friendship
The intensity of Meghan's warmth towards Malala was to show their 'warmth and friendship to the rest of the world'
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intensity → show → world
'Meghan's "gracious duchess" ritual of splaying and coat-flapping would ensure that if she hadn't already been spotted, that glamorous tan cape coat, fully extended like wings, would be sure to do the trick in drawing attention', a leading body language has said
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language → ensure → attention
Meghan and Malala said their farewells outside the busy Claridge's rather than inside the hotel
Meghan appeared to be rekindling her British charity connections as she enjoyed a glamorous afternoon tea with the Nobel Peace Prize winner
Judi James said the hug was so enthusiastic that 'Meghan's left hand clawed as it holds onto Malala's shoulder'
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it → say → shoulder
A leading PR guru has suggested Claridge's and its privacy-conscious VIP clientele may be unhappy with the 'pantomime' surrounding the pair's afternoon tea
She said Meghan's hug appeared 'intentionally intense', adding: 'Meghan's eyes appeared to have closed over Malala's shoulder, signalling warmth and friendship to the rest of the world.'
uncertain
eyes → lead → world
'The hand is held in mid-air with the wrist bent and the hand held upright to create that delicate "broken wing" look that celebrities often use to imply a state of elegant vulnerability and specialness,' she added.
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she → hold → vulnerability
Borkowski claimed Meghan had turned Claridge's into a 'celebrity circus'.
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Meghan → claim → circus
He said: 'What a pantomime.
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He → say → ?
On the one hand, you crave normality and plead for privacy.
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you → crave → privacy
On the other, you choose one of London's most famous celebrity haunts, a magnet for paparazzi, and emerge looking as though you've stepped straight off a fashion runway.
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you → choose → runway
There are countless places they could have chosen for a cosy chat.
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they → be → chat
The great irony is that Meghan wants to be seen as ordinary while continuing to operate in the extraordinary theatre of fame.
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Meghan → want → fame
You can't demand privacy while repeatedly choosing the spotlight.'
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You → demand → spotlight
Claridge's in Mayfair is one of the most exclusive hotels in the world, but Mr Borkowski believes its management may be less than impressed.
uncertain
management → believe → world
He said: 'It's hardly a great advertisement for Claridge's.
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It → say → Claridge
The sight of camera phones and TikTokers capturing private encounters sends a rather unfortunate message to celebrities and high-net-worth guests who pay handsomely for discretion.
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who → capture → discretion
If even Claridge's can't provide a sanctuary from the celebrity circus, where can?
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Claridge → provide → circus
The Duchess and Malala look deep in conversation as they exit the restaurant after their meal
Mark Borkowski claimed Meghan had turned Claridge's into a 'celebrity circus'
Meghan smiles as she and Malala walk away from the hotel after their catch-up
Meghan has been barely seen since she and Harry arrived by private jet on August 26.
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she → look → August
Malala, who was a 15-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl when she was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 after advocating female education, is a charity powerhouse.
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she → shoot → education
The pair first met during Covid, when Meghan was among the celebrity voices lending their heft to a campaign for female education in 2020.
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Meghan → meet → 2020
Malala, who is now married and lives in Birmingham, runs the Malala Fund and campaigns to bring education to girls globally.
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who → live → girls
The meeting at Claridge’s, where the two had a £95-a-head afternoon tea, has notably not been shared by Meghan on social media.
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two → have → media
A source close to the duchess said that it was simply a personal meeting.
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it → say → duchess
Meghan was wearing a camel Tove Studio coat worth £1,695, a £630 cashmere sweater in wheat by LA-based label CO and Ralph Lauren's £1,700 white satin Masina trousers in 'lux cream'.
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Meghan → wear → cream
She carried a black Chanel handbag worth around £7,000 and wore £795 Saint Laurent ivory and tan ‘Chris’ loafers.
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She → carry → loafers
Around her neck was Logan Hollowell's Lovers Duet Diamond and Emerald Chain necklace, valued at £16,200.
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necklace → value → 16,200
Her entire outfit came to just more than £28,000.
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outfit → come → 28,000
In a striking contrast to her Chanel arm candy, the Duchess also carried a canvas tote bag featuring a striking design depicting women wearing hijabs.
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Duchess → carry → hijabs
The pair enjoyed a classic British afternoon tea with the scones apparently being a favourite of Meghan's.
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scones → enjoy → Meghan
They were watched by security throughout.
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They → watch → security
Meghan and Malala first joined forces in October 2020 for a virtual discussion on the International Day of the Girl, when they spoke about girls' education.
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they → join → education
Their London meet-up is believed to have been Meghan's first public appearance in the capital since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022.
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up → believe → September
Months earlier Meghan and Prince Harry were met by some boos as they arrived at St Paul's Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
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they → meet → Jubilee
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
