Meghan Markle ‘delighted’ by attention and ditches ‘hounded’ by paparazzi face

Meghan Markle has changed from seeming “scared” of the paparazzi to now looking “thoroughly delighted by their attention,” says body language expert Judi James.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, was spotted shopping with her pal Kelly McKee Zajfen, and the pair were seen chatting and laughing as they exited Montecito restaurant Pane e Vino for a bite to eat. The women had their arms around each other and Kelly even had a bag full of leftovers, as the duo were clearly on a mission to spend some quality time together.

Meghan successfully “retains a smile” when communicating with photographers and is “open and comfortable” with them, as opposed to how she seemed in her and Prince Harry’s Netflix documentary. Judi told us: “In their Netflix documentary we saw Meghan looking scared and hounded by the paparazzi but suddenly she is out and about here looking thoroughly delighted by their attention.

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“Ushering her friend ahead with one of signature steering gestures she doesn’t just smile here, she retains that smile even when she is communicating directly with the photographers in what looks like a good-humoured moment of jovial contact,” she added. “Her hand to head gesture even seems to draw attention to her face and the way she walks on the side the press rather than behind her friend suggests she is open and comfortable in terms of airing her best ‘I’m so happy’ smile.”

It comes after reports that Meghan was “desperate” for Harry to fix things with his father, King Charles and the rest of the royal family. In turn, Harry called his father to send birthday wishes in an act that many are calling an “olive branch.”

Royal sources said it was likely to be a “nice surprise” for the King, who had not heard from Harry, either by phone or message, “for some time”. His Majesty is understood to have had a friendly and cordial chat with his boy during the transatlantic chat.

Charles also spoke on the phone with Meghan Markle and received a video of Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, singing happy birthday to their grandfather, who he has only met on a handful of occasions.

Judi continued: “There is almost a look of relief about her behaviour here, which could possibly be connected to some alleged thawing of the perma-frost that had grown over her and Harry’s relationship with Charles. The ‘delighted’ expressions she is sporting here look almost illustrative or symbolic on the day of her father-in-law’s birthday when there have been rumours Harry made contact again with his ‘Pa’.”