Meghan Markle has once again become the subject of a heated online debate after an old clip from the 2018 Trooping the Colour resurfaced, showing her reaction to Princess Charlotte’s minor stumble on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The Duchess of Sussex, who was newly married to Prince Harry at the time, was caught on camera smiling shortly after the young royal, daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton, lost her footing. While some social media users accused Meghan of mocking Charlotte, body language expert Judi James has defended her, insisting the interpretation is misleading.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, James explained: “This clip has seen Meghan accused on social media of a ‘mean girl’ level of enjoying another’s misfortune as she appears to smile or laugh after Charlotte takes a small tumble. The rumours around the bridesmaid-based wedding spat with Kate might have fueled these claims, but a closer analysis of the body language here suggests the moment might not be quite what it seems.”
According to James, Meghan appeared to be engaged in a lighthearted exchange with Camilla, now Queen Consort, and may not have even seen the exact moment Charlotte stumbled. “Camilla, Meghan and Harry had been laughing and chatting prior to the fall, so in many ways Meghan is just politely carrying on with the mood of the conversation here,” she noted.
The expert also pointed out that Prince Harry’s body language offered a stronger clue. “She seems to be taking her conversational leads from Camilla and Harry and, if anything, it’s Harry putting his hand to his face as though masking a laugh or making an aside-style comment here,” James explained.
Importantly, James emphasised that smiling in response to a child’s fall or cry can often be an empathetic reflex rather than an unkind one. “Smiling is usually a common and thoughtful reaction that can be used to show empathy and care rather than irritation at the noise,” she clarified.
The resurfaced video comes years after reports of a rift between Meghan and Kate, which were said to have begun around the time of Meghan and Harry’s 2018 wedding. Rumors suggested a disagreement involving Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, though both women later downplayed the claims.
This latest debate illustrates how past royal events continue to be reinterpreted in the context of Meghan’s strained relationship with the monarchy. While the Duchess has stepped away from royal duties and now lives in California with Prince Harry and their two children, moments from her early royal life still spark fresh scrutiny.