Just five short months after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said “I do” in the most watched wedding of the decade, a telling clip from October 2018 is resurfacing—and it’s raising serious questions about who’s really calling the shots in their marriage. In a now-viral moment captured during their whirlwind royal tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand, Meghan appears to attempt to steer her husband in a particular direction—only for Harry to visibly push back, walking ahead and leaving her momentarily behind. Royal insiders and body language experts are calling it a clear sign of early tension, with Harry resisting Meghan’s efforts to “guide” him in public. Could this have been the first red flag in what would later become a full-blown rift with the royal family? We’ve dug deep into the footage, the context, and the expert takes—because this isn’t just a cute newlywed moment; it’s a glimpse into the power dynamics that may have been simmering from the start.
The scene in question unfolded amid the Sussexes’ blockbuster 16-day overseas tour in October 2018—their first major international outing as a married couple. Fresh off their May wedding at Windsor Castle, the pair were hailed as modern royals: glamorous, relatable, and forward-thinking. The tour was packed with 76 engagements, from shaking hands with crowds in Sydney to cultural ceremonies in Fiji and touching moments with veterans at the Invictus Games sailing finals. Meghan, glowing and often pregnant (though the announcement came later that month), charmed the world with her poise and empathy. Harry, ever the dutiful prince, beamed beside her. But beneath the polished photo ops, subtle cracks were already showing.
In one particular arrival sequence—widely shared on social media platforms and analyzed by body language pros—Harry and Meghan step off their plane or enter an event space. Meghan reaches out, seemingly to direct Harry or pull him closer for a coordinated entrance, perhaps to align with protocol or pose for cameras. Harry, however, doesn’t comply. He keeps striding forward, his posture firm and independent, leaving Meghan to adjust quickly. Experts have described it as Harry appearing “torn” between royal duties and his new wife’s “relentless” style. Body language analyst Judi James, reviewing similar footage from the Fiji landing at Nausori Airport, noted Harry facing a “protocol predicament”—visibly conflicted as Meghan tried to rewrite the rules on the fly.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Throughout the tour, Meghan’s confident, hands-on approach clashed with the rigid expectations of royal protocol. She was seen reaching for Harry’s hand in moments where tradition might dictate otherwise, or positioning herself prominently in group settings. Harry, raised in the Firm’s “never complain, never explain” world, reportedly felt the pull of divided loyalties. One expert put it bluntly: Harry looked “torn” between honoring his lifelong training and supporting his wife’s more American, assertive vibe. In that October clip, his resistance is unmistakable—he doesn’t pull away harshly, but he doesn’t yield either. It’s a quiet rebellion that speaks volumes.
Why does this moment matter now? Because hindsight is brutal. Fast-forward to today, and the Sussexes have stepped away from royal life, relocated to California, launched podcasts, Netflix deals, and memoirs that air plenty of family grievances. Harry’s 2023 book *Spare* detailed years of feeling overshadowed and controlled—not just by the institution, but perhaps by dynamics closer to home. Critics point to early signs like this 2018 clip as evidence that Meghan’s attempts to “guide” Harry began almost immediately after the vows, and his pushback foreshadowed bigger conflicts.
Royal watchers recall other subtle tensions from the tour. In Fiji, Harry’s body language suggested discomfort as Meghan navigated greetings in ways that bent protocol. In Australia, crowds adored them, but insiders whispered about Meghan’s desire to “outshine” others—a charge that’s echoed in later reports. The pregnancy announcement on October 15, midway through the tour, shifted focus to joy, but the underlying strains lingered. Body language doesn’t lie, and in that one resistant stride, Harry seemed to draw a line: I’m still my own man.
Of course, supporters dismiss it as overanalysis. “They were newlyweds figuring things out,” one fan account argued. “Harry was just excited to greet people!” But detractors see a pattern. Social media is flooded with side-by-side comparisons: Meghan guiding, Harry resisting; Meghan leading, Harry pulling back. Hashtags like #MeghanMarkleExposed trend periodically when old clips resurface, with commenters claiming this was the start of Meghan’s “controlling” influence.
The 2018 tour was meant to cement the Sussexes as the future of the monarchy—youthful, diverse, and dynamic. Instead, it may have planted seeds of discord. Meghan, a self-made actress used to directing her own narrative, met a prince bound by centuries of tradition. Harry, torn between love and duty, resisted in small ways that grew larger over time.
As the couple navigates their post-royal chapter—complete with Hollywood ventures, family privacy battles, and occasional public spats—this early moment feels prophetic. Meghan tried to guide; Harry resisted. Five months in, the fairy tale already had its first plot twist. And if body language tells the real story, it wasn’t the last. What do you think—was this just newlywed awkwardness, or the first crack in the Sussex fairy tale? Drop your thoughts below!
