Meghan and Harry put ‘protective arm’ around youth group during community visit

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marked Mental Health Awareness Month by paying a visit to a group that provides youths with resources to develop emotional intelligence.

Pictures of the community visit show the Duke and Duchess laughing as they engaged with the teenagers over the generation’s mental wellbeing.

The pair met with the nonprofit organisation AHA! In Montecito, California, for an hour-long discussion about social pressures and social media.

Both Harry and Meghan have been outspoken about their mental health struggles in the past and have openly advocated for asking for help.

Snaps taken during the community visit showed the pair actively listening to the teenagers and ‘taking notes’, body language expert Judi James pointed out.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle’s new Hollywood friends including Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow

The behavioural analyst told Express.co.uk: “Posing with a large group of young people to promote mental awareness, Harry and Meghan stick to the back of the shot, standing upright as the others crouch slightly and posing in a way that implies they are putting a protective arm around the entire group.

“Sitting talking with the group in another photo we see Harry in active listening and encouraging mode in a high-energy pose that involves leaning forward onto splayed knees and grabbing his chin in one hand while cupping his elbow in the other.

“Meghan is in more regal mode, looking upright and carefully elegantly poised with one hand on the wrist of the other in more of a silent mode than her husband.

“We also see the couple ‘taking notes’ although the pose seems to be more about catching them giggling together, with Meghan’s head dropping slightly to allow her hair to cover her face in what looks like a coy pose.”

A picture of the pair facing the group emaphasises the “affection between the two”, as the Duchess appeared coy, added James.

She went on: “Although there is also one other rather ‘coy’- looking ‘tell’ from Meghan in the group photo that is a rare gesture from her.

“Standing behind the group there is still a gap where we can see her feet and legs and they are crossed at the ankle.

“Meghan is normally the epitome of confidence but this ankle-crossing pose is normally a sign of status or confidence-lowering.”

Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/ExpressUSNews and @expressusnews