Why Does Meghan Markle Often Stick Out Her Tongue When Being Photographed by Paparazzi?

Having worked as an actress
long before she joined the firm, Meghan Markle is a far cry from camera shy.

And royal watchers have
noticed a rather unusual pose that the Duchess of Sussex frequently adopts when
out and about – a cheeky tongue poke.

Pregnant Meghan, 37, has been
spotted sticking out her tongue on several occasions both during public and
private engagements.

Body language expert Judi James
says that the gesture is a bid to come off as more approachable to the public,
a trait adopted by her late mother-in-law.

Speaking to Fabulous Digital
she explains: “Meghan used this gesture when she was wearing her more formal
royal clothing for the first time and this implies a desire to look funny and
‘real’ rather than stiff and starchy.

“Princess Diana used to employ
similar, self-effacing traits as tie-signs to connect with her fans when she
was appearing at very dressy royal events, often grinning and rolling her eyes
at the cameras to show she was still natural and down-to-earth despite wearing
a long gown and a tiara.”

Judi says that Meghan uses
three types of ‘tongue-poke’ depending on the occasion, all with slightly
different meanings.

During a visit to Brinsworth
House in Twickenham, she could be seen sticking her tongue out while helping to
make Christmas decorations.

Judi comments: “By
sticking part of her tongue out and clamping it between her teeth as she
studies some papers on a table, Meghan uses a very childish gesture of
concentration.

“Babies and small kids will
often poke their tongue from their mouths when they’re thinking hard or working
on something they find complex, probably because the tongue is covered with
several sensitive nerve-endings and keeping it still like this can help avoid
distraction.”