Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding took place just a few months after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot and the couple were in attendance

In the world of British royalty, where protocol and decorum rule supreme, even the smallest facial expression can become the subject of intense public scrutiny. One such moment occurred at Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding on October 12, 2018 — a day meant to celebrate love and union, yet one that sparked conversation for another reason entirely.

Seated among the congregation at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, appeared to sharply respond to her husband, Prince Harry, just before the ceremony began. A brief interaction, captured by royal watchers and later analyzed by body language experts, hinted at tension — or perhaps just a moment of human frustration — between the newlywed couple.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended Princess Eugenie’s wedding (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

A Telling Glance

The camera footage, available via Daily Mail, shows Meghan seated beside Harry in the pews, speaking quietly with Zara Tindall, another member of the royal family. As she chats, Harry seems to interject, prompting Meghan to momentarily break from her conversation and turn to address him.

While the exchange is quiet and private, Meghan’s body language suggests a flash of irritation. According to renowned body language expert Judi James, “Harry appears to be anxious and fidgety when they sit in their pew seats, rocking about and fiddling with the tails of his jacket.” In contrast, Meghan appears calm and composed — until the interruption.

“She performs a subtle eye-dart to her left,” James explains, likening the gesture to “a mother whose child is trying to interrupt her grown-up conversation.”

What follows is a brief but notable shift in demeanor. Meghan turns toward Harry, raises her hands slightly, and brings them together as if to refocus him or address a minor annoyance. James describes this as “a slightly firmer conversation,” marked by a “small head-baton gesture for emphasis.” Moments later, Meghan leans back toward Zara, resumes her polite social smile, and carries on the conversation.

Meanwhile, Harry, chastened or simply resigned, is seen chewing his lips and leaning into the side of the pew “like a child that has just been told to sit still.”

Tension or Trivial?

To some, the moment appeared to reflect typical marital dynamics — a minor disagreement or miscommunication that could happen to any couple. But for Meghan and Harry, who were still fresh into their marriage, the clip added fuel to ongoing media narratives about their relationship and their evolving role within the royal family.

The timing of the event contributed to the scrutiny. Eugenie and Jack’s wedding came less than five months after Meghan and Harry’s own grand celebration, also held at St. George’s Chapel. Their presence at the second royal wedding of the year was expected — but their behavior, as always, was under the magnifying glass.

Sharing the Spotlight

Adding to the intrigue was the fact that Harry and Meghan were quietly expecting their first child, Archie Harrison. As Prince Harry later revealed in his 2023 memoir Spare, they chose Princess Eugenie’s wedding as the occasion to privately share the news with family.

“The various gatherings connected to the wedding would give us a chance to pull aside family members one by one and tell them our good news,” Harry wrote.

Just days later, on October 15, 2018, Kensington Palace formally announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were expecting their first child.

However, not everyone was pleased with the way the announcement unfolded. In Tom Bower’s controversial biography, Revenge: Meghan, Harry And The War Between The Windsors, the author claims that some royal insiders were puzzled by Meghan’s decision to reveal the news on what was meant to be Eugenie’s special day.

“Many wondered why Meghan chose to reveal her news on the bride’s big day,” Bower wrote, suggesting a breach of royal etiquette.

Still, no official grievances were ever made public. Eugenie and Jack have since remained close to Harry and Meghan, even hosting them in California after the couple stepped down from royal duties.

Human Moments in a Royal World

The so-called “eye-roll” moment is hardly scandalous by everyday standards. Couples have moments of annoyance or frustration all the time — but when you’re a royal couple, sitting in front of hundreds of cameras at a royal wedding, every glance and gesture takes on outsized importance.

Meghan’s response could be interpreted in several ways. Perhaps Harry said something disruptive while she was mid-conversation. Maybe he asked a question at the wrong time. Or maybe — like many expecting parents who are navigating constant public appearances — they were simply having a long day.

Either way, the exchange is a rare unscripted moment in a world where so much is rehearsed and polished.

A Royal Pattern?

This isn’t the only time Meghan Markle has been accused of stepping on royal toes — whether intentionally or not. From her untraditional wedding gown to her vocal political stances, she has often been cast as a modern woman in an ancient institution. Her and Harry’s eventual exit from senior royal duties only fueled the perception that they were never quite comfortable with the constraints of royal life.

Yet, moments like this — fleeting and authentic — also reveal the real people behind the headlines. Meghan’s so-called eye-roll wasn’t about stealing the spotlight or causing drama. It was a flash of real emotion in an otherwise choreographed day.

In retrospect, the 2018 royal wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank was one of the last major family events to feature Harry and Meghan before their relationship with the wider royal institution began to fracture. In the years since, they’ve relocated to California, become parents of two, and stepped fully into life as independent public figures.

But revisiting moments like this offers a glimpse into the dynamics at play — not just between Meghan and Harry, but within the complex world of royal protocol, family expectations, and relentless media coverage.

The eye-roll seen around the world may have lasted only seconds, but in the royal spotlight, seconds can echo for years.