Body Language Expert Breaks Down Prince Harry's Entrance at London Court

The Duke of Sussex's confident stride into a London courthouse sparked sharp observations from a body language expert, who hinted there was more behind his demeanor than met the eye.

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Prince Harry notably appeared at a London court to continue his legal battle over the downgrade of his U.K. security.

The Duke is appealing a previous High Court ruling that upheld the government's decision to assess his security needs on a case-by-case basis during visits to the United Kingdom.

Body language expert Judi James examined Prince Harry's demeanor as he arrived at court. Speaking exclusively to Express, she stated, "With his brisk, swaggering walk and his jacket unbuttoned it would be reasonable to describe Harry's chosen projected body language mood here as 'cocky.'"

Judi further observed that "his chest is puffed and he throws some brusque, celebrity waves to either press or maybe fans waiting to watch him, creating the suggestion that he sees himself as rather heroic and even popular for his current UK court appearance."

While this behavior may suggest confidence, Judi noted signs that could point to inner unease. "There is one cue or 'tell' though that suggests he might not be feeling quite as brave as he seems to want to make out and that is the frequent touch on the tie or stomach here that creates an excuse for a self-protective barrier gesture," she said.

Judi added, "As a ritual it is similar to his father's trait of playing with a cuff or watch strap to enable him to lift one arm up in front of his torso."

According to BBC News, Prince Harry arrived at the court shortly after 9:30 a.m. BST. He entered with a small security team supported by court officers and was seen waving to cameras before using a private entrance.

Reporters called out questions and wanted to know if he planned to meet with his father, King Charles, but the Duke did not respond.

Inside the courtroom, Harry sat in the center during the proceedings. His legal team, led by barrister Shaheed Fatima KC, argued that he had been "singled out" for unequal treatment.

She claimed the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) failed to follow its procedures by not consulting security experts before altering his taxpayer-funded protection.

The case centers on a government decision that modified the Duke's security arrangements in the U.K. Harry contends that this change places him and his family at risk.

He has previously stressed the need for safety, especially for his children, and expressed his desire for them to feel secure when visiting the country.

In earlier proceedings, the High Court ruled that Ravec's actions were not unlawful. However, the government's legal team pushed back on the written submissions presented during this appeal.

They argued the prince's case is based on "small parts of the evidence" and reflects "a continued failure to see the wood for the trees."

Prince Harry's court appearance, marked by visible confidence and subtle gestures of tension, comes as he pursues legal action to restore a consistent security detail in the U.K.

While his legal team challenges the fairness of the decision-making process, the government continues to defend its position. The outcome remains pending as proceedings unfold.

As the legal proceedings continue, Prince Harry's time in the U.K. also drew attention for reasons beyond the courtroom.

On April 5, Charles, Lord Vivian, married U.S. compliance director Saweda Kamara at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London, marking his second marriage. Although Prince Harry was in the city at the time, he did not attend the wedding.

According to The Daily Mail, the Duke of Sussex, 40, once stood alongside Charles and others in a "band of brothers" photo taken at Windsor Castle on the night of his 2018 wedding — an image later featured in the Netflix series "Harry & Meghan."

Charles, 58, told the outlet that Harry had been invited to his and Saweda's wedding but said, "I don't know. He has a lot on." His absence was especially notable, as he had previously served as an usher at Charles' first wedding to Elizabeth Wimpress.

Among the guests who attended Charles and Saweda's wedding was Mark Dyer, 59, a former Welsh Guards officer described as Harry's "second father."

He was the one who introduced Harry to Charles, a public relations executive who reportedly assisted with several of the prince's charitable trips to Africa.

Harry's nonappearance on Charles's special day followed a similar pattern in recent years. In June 2024, he did not attend the wedding of Olivia Henson and his longtime friend Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, as reported by People.

The high-society ceremony occurred at the Chester Cathedral in northern England and was attended by 400 guests, including Princess Eugenie and Prince William, who served as an usher.

Although Harry had been invited, he and the groom recognized the logistical challenges. A source close to the couple described it as "an understanding between the two friends."

With Harry now based in California and no longer holding a U.K. residence following the loss of Frogmore Cottage, the trip proved difficult. Still, he reportedly sent "his love and support and admiration for the couple."

In 2023, he also missed the wedding of another close friend, Jack Mann.

Regarding his absence from Charles' wedding, a source told People that Harry's absence was due to the lack of official security during his visit, which made it "very challenging" to travel or participate in public events.

The Duke of Sussex reportedly arrived on Sunday, April 6, and appeared in London two days later for a security hearing at the Court of Appeal.

Harry's court appearance in London came as other members of the Royal Family focused on international duties.

On April 7, King Charles III and Queen Camilla began a four-day state visit to Italy to celebrate and strengthen the ties between the United Kingdom and Italy.

During their state visit, the royal couple made appearances in Rome and the city of Ravenna, using the soft power of monarchy to reinforce diplomatic ties and cultural connections between the two nations.

While the trip was initially set to include a formal state visit to the Holy See, that portion of the itinerary has been canceled. Pope Francis is currently recovering after being released from the hospital, where he received treatment for double pneumonia.

With the Vatican events withdrawn from the schedule, the royal delegation has shifted its focus to other parts of the Italian capital.

To accommodate the changes, the remaining engagements in Rome have been reorganized and extended across two days, with extra elements added to some appearances.

Charles and Camilla have taken to Instagram to share moments from their trip so far, including endearing photos of the two of them surrounded by picturesque florals and architecture. They also shared a video showing their visit to see President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale.

Accompanying the vibrant photos showing Charles and his beloved is a caption that reads, "As we begin our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are so looking forward to celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special place – and with such wonderful people! A presto, Roma e Ravenna! -Charles R & Camilla R."

The royal couple's trip to Italy precedes Harry's arrival in the U.K., where he appeared in a London courtroom on April 8.

He formally contested a decision made by the British government to reduce the level of publicly funded security provided to him during visits to the United Kingdom. According to BBC, each time the Duke of Sussex travels to England, his security needs are assessed individually to determine just how much protection he will need while in the U.K.

Although Prince Harry, reportedly, has expressed his willingness to pay for police protection, the committee in charge of deciding the kind of security royals receive says that that is not allowed. As put by BBC reporter Charlotte Gallagher, "The funds either come centrally, or not at all."

Additionally, his recent appeal is the latest move in a string of stages of a case that has been ongoing for approximately more than three years.

A judicial review application was filed back in September 2021, and since then, Harry has been free to challenge the Home Office, which turned out to ultimately be unsuccessful.

He then tried to appeal the judge's ruling, which failed. However, in May 2024, he was finally granted permission to state his case in the Court of Appeal, which brings us to where things stand today.