Body language expert weighs in on Meghan Markle’s supposedly awkward moment with her mother at her Grenfell cookbook launch

Today commemorates eight years since Britain’s worst residential fire since World War II.

The devastating Grenfell Tower fire broke out in the 24-storey block of flats in North Kensington and claimed the lives of 72 people.

The response to the national tragedy was phenomenal, with the London Community Foundation raising more than £10million and the British Red Cross raising £7.3million.

The Royal Family were quick to show their support, with the late Queen visiting the scene of the fire two days after it broke out, speaking with survivors, relatives of those who died, and volunteers and emergency services workers.

Meghan Markle regularly cooked with residents at the Hubb Community Kitchen, a local initiative started to support those affected by the fire.

She also collaborated with women affected by the fire on a charity cookbook, Together: Our Community Cookbook, in September 2018, featuring 50 recipes from the women involved and a foreword from the Duchess herself.

In 2024, Marie Claire reported that the cookbook had raised £911,000 and sold more than 130,000 copies in its first six months.

Meghan’s close work with the women she met at the Hubb Community Kitchen marked her first solo project as a member of the Royal Family, as she established her new home in London.

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Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, joined the Duke and Duchess for the official launch of the Hubb Community Kitchen’s cookbook at an outdoor lunch at Kensington Palace on September 20, 2018

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Meghan stands next to her mother as she speaks at the launch event for the Together cookbook

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The Duchess collaborated with women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire on a charity cookbook featuring 50 recipes

The cookbook, which is still available on Amazon, aimed to raise £250,000 to keep the Hubb Community Kitchen going.

But the book’s resounding success meant more could be done and, in 2019, the kitchen was completely refurbished and opened seven days a week.

On September 20, 2018, Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, joined the Duke and Duchess for the official launch of the cookbook at an outdoor lunch at Kensington Palace.

Meghan said she was ‘so proud’ to live in the British capital as she delivered a three-minute speech without any notes. She described how the charity cookbook was a ‘labour of love’ and a ‘passion project’ that she had been working on with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen for the past nine months.

Meghan’s mother being at the event was significant, with the Mail’s Richard Kay writing at the time: ‘So often royal events are stagey, awkward and, let’s admit it, unimaginative affairs.

‘Doria’s presence at Meghan’s side at her charity cookbook launch – and her remarks – seemed both instinctive and authentic.’

But there was one moment which didn’t sit right with some royal observers.

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Meghan helps out in the kitchen set up by women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire

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Meghan’s close work with the women she met at the Hubb Community Kitchen marked her first solo project as a member of the Royal Family, as she established her new home in London

During the speech, the Duchess thanked the women for letting her work with them on the project – describing how it ‘took a village’ to realise her vision.

But as Meghan was speaking with a group of women and took a pause, her mother began to speak and was met by a stern look from her daughter.

Body language expert Jesús Enrique Rosas described the awkward moment.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Jesús, also known as The Body Language Guy, suggested Meghan was ‘a little nervous because this was her moment to shine’ with her first solo project.

But he noticed how everyone looked like they were ‘having a good time’, with ‘lots of genuine smiles’ suggesting ‘they really liked being around Meghan’.

He said: ‘At first Meghan’s body language is quite relaxed and there is no tension in her eyebrows or her mouth.

‘She’s just talking and using certain hand gestures to emphasise her words.’

But the body language expert claims that as Meghan is about to end a sentence she clasps her hands, signalling the end of a thought.

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Body language expert Jesús Enrique Rosas described the awkward moment when Doria interrupted Meghan

Jesús Enrique Rosas says: ‘What gives Meghan’s emotions away is the shape of her mouth. Her lips are pressed against each other and are almost completely horizontal. That’s a signal of frustration’