Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s final royal Christmas in the UK was far from picture-perfect, as cracks in their relationship with the royal family began to show.

According to a royal expert, the couple left a trail of powerful clues during their last festive period in the UK, indicating that all was not well.

Since 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have chosen not to spend Christmas at Sandringham.

In 2019, they celebrated the holiday in America with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, before eventually stepping back from their royal duties in 2020.

However, during their last Christmas at Sandringham in 2018, the couple joined Prince William and Kate Middleton in greeting well-wishers at St Mary Magdalene Church.

Yet, despite the seemingly harmonious gathering, body language expert Judy James suggests that there were underlying signs of tension between the two couples.

James explained to the Mirror that although it wasn’t obvious at the time, the Sussexes left subtle but significant clues.

She described their behavior as a “planned, choreographed denial pose,” reminiscent of how celebrity couples often act when rumors of a marriage breakdown circulate.

During a walk, Kate deliberately distanced herself from William to engage in conversation with Meghan.

James observed that the camera was directly in front of the foursome, capturing Kate’s effort to bridge the gap and exchange smiles with Meghan.

However, there was no eye contact or connection between William and Harry.

While the media focused on analyzing Kate and Meghan’s body language, the frosty dynamic between the brothers went largely unnoticed.

They were still viewed as an unbreakable sibling duo.

James highlighted Kate’s complex smile, which deviated from her usual flawless and effortless expressions.

The slight puckering of her cheeks suggested a struggle between her outward display and inner emotions.

In contrast, Meghan did not reciprocate Kate’s attempts at engagement.

She clung tightly to Harry’s arm, portraying Kate as an interruption.

With her bag and gloves acting as a barrier, Meghan’s hand closest to Kate remained closed, while Kate’s free hand gestured openly.

Meanwhile, Prince William seemed detached from the entire encounter.

Wrapped in a large scarf with his hands tucked in his pockets, he appeared disconnected.

On the other hand, Harry actively engaged with the fans along the route, conveying a sense of being an active and popular royal, seemingly oblivious to any thoughts of leaving his role.

These subtle gestures and interactions during their last royal Christmas hinted at the underlying tension between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the rest of the royal family.

It was a prelude to the significant decision they would make in the following years, ultimately leading to their departure from royal duties.

The cracks that were already visible during that festive period would only deepen and widen over time, shaping the course of their future.