Fitting right in.
Prince Harry may have left his motherland behind, but he is throwing himself into his new home country's customs with gusto.
The Duke of Sussex and his cousin Princess Eugenie were spotted in the stands at the Super Bowl together, and they looked like they were having a fantastic time. This, according to body language expert Darren Stanton, was a welcome break from some more stressful times the prince has been experiencing in recent years.
"Until relatively recently, Harry has exhibited lots of signs of anxiety and stress," Stanton tells Marie Claire on behalf of Betfair Casino.
"Previously, we’ve seen Harry looking red and blotchy in the face and across his cheeks, which is a physiological shift of emotion and is a visible sign of flight or flight syndrome. It affects our emotional state dramatically; however, since being in Los Angeles, Harry has shown moments of sheer joy and genuine happiness when stepping out with Meghan."
Watching the big game with his cousin brought him the same happiness, apparently. "At the Super Bowl, we saw more of this side to Harry," Stanton continues. "He was displaying sheer joy at being present for the famous final and a keen sportsman himself, it’s no surprise he was visibly seen to be enjoying himself."
For the expert, the duke's expressions betray his joy—despite the face covering. "While his face is covered by a mask, you can tell it is still engaged and there were moments he showed genuine emotion while sat alongside his cousin Eugenie," Stanton adds. "There’s no denying there’s a strong bond between the two royals. They have always been close and this familiarity is evident in how both Harry and Eugenie seem completely at ease around each other."
Stanton believes that California living is a natural fit for the London-born royal. "Since Harry has headed Stateside, I feel he has learned to embrace the LA lifestyle and he appears so much more relaxed," Stanton says.
"For instance, at the game, we saw Harry ditching formal dress for jeans and trainers. He’s sitting back in his chair and has one foot resting up on the wall in front of him with his legs positioned fairly apart—this softer and more relaxed posture shows he is more than happy to be sat back in the crowd and soaking up the spectacle that is the Super Bowl in the same manner as everyone else.
"Not only does it provide a moment of escapism, it gives Harry the opportunity to just be himself. Although I’m sure there’s a part of Harry that still misses the UK, it seems to me that he has now found a new level of peace." And that's really all anyone can hope for.
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Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Bustle and Shape. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
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