As soon as Prince Harry entered St George’s Chapel on May 19, 2018, body language expert Judi James could tell he was riddled with nerves.

And who could blame him? For any groom, the wedding day is nerve-wracking. Let alone if you are one half of a royal couple that the world are waiting to see tie the knot.

The likes of Serena Williams, David and Victoria Beckham, George and Amal Clooney and the entire cast of Suits were sitting in the star-studded congregation.

And don’t forget that nearly two billion people tuned in to watch his big day on television.

Prince Harry ‘was so patently nervous’ that Ms James counted as he performed 12 self-touching body checks including wringing his hands, fiddling with his gloves and tugging at his blue doeskin frockcoat – all of which suggest extreme anxiety.

‘His lip-licking would normally suggest a dry mouth caused by the same,’ Ms James told Harper’s Bazaar.

Expert lip reader Terry Ruane also noticed Harry’s nerves ahead of the fairytale ceremony when he was seen asking his brother and best man Prince William: ‘Is Meghan here?’

The anxious groom later quipped: ‘My hair is going to go grey’.

Expert lip reader Judi James noticed Harry performing 12 self-touching body checks including wringing his hands and licking his lips

Expert lip reader Judi James noticed Harry performing 12 self-touching body checks including wringing his hands and licking his lips 

While waiting at the altar, a nervous Harry asked his brother Prince William: 'Is Meghan here?'

While waiting at the altar, a nervous Harry asked his brother Prince William: ‘Is Meghan here?’

The likes of Serena Williams, David and Victoria Beckham, George and Amal Clooney and the entire cast of Suits were sitting in the star-studded congregation

The likes of Serena Williams, David and Victoria Beckham, George and Amal Clooney and the entire cast of Suits were sitting in the star-studded congregation

Meghan, on the other hand, ‘was the strength’ of the ceremony as she appeared to ‘help Harry through it’ by constantly reassuring him.

Although the experience was completely new to the American actress, she displayed no signs of anxiety or nervousness – even as she walked down the first part of the aisle all by herself.

Speaking to Sky News, Ms James said: ‘Meghan was amazing. Walking up the aisle by herself, I looked for every smallest sign of suppressed anxiety and nervousness – there was absolutely nothing.

‘I think she probably saw it as her role to help Harry through it rather than the other way round. She sat with her hand over his for quite a bit of the service as though she was reassuring him.

‘To me, she was the strength when it came to the day and the actual performance.’

Meghan, resplendent in a Givenchy gown, kept her composure throughout the exchanging of vows with Ms James comparing her hand to ‘a ballet dancer’s’ due to its steadiness.

The body language expert also noted that Meghan looked directly at Harry as he spoke during the ceremony – a sign of her confidence in leading their big day.

This is unusual for a royal wedding as the bride typically looks at her groom ‘in very tiny glances’, according to Ms James.

Meghan Markle walks part-way down the aisle by herself

Meghan Markle walks part-way down the aisle by herself

Body language expert Ms James could not find the 'smallest sign of suppressed anxiety and nervousness' in the bride

Body language expert Ms James could not find the ‘smallest sign of suppressed anxiety and nervousness’ in the bride

During their vows, Meghan held Harry's gaze - a sign of her confidence in leading their big day

During their vows, Meghan held Harry’s gaze – a sign of her confidence in leading their big day

Ms James compared Meghan's hand to 'a ballet dancer's' due to its steadiness

Ms James compared Meghan’s hand to ‘a ballet dancer’s’ due to its steadiness

She said: ‘When he went to take his vows, the undistilled awe and love for her is what we normally see at royal weddings in very tiny glances – but we got the full force of it with this one, which is what made it unique and very touching.’

Continuing to lead the way, lip reader Larry Wenig told Inside Edition that the Duchess initiated the fairytale kiss that would be plastered across the front pages the following day.

‘Okay, let’s kiss,’ she said under her breath on the steps of St George’s Chapel.

Harry willingly obliged, licking his lips before leaning in to peck her as the crowds roared.

‘She’s already leading the way,’ a journalist from Inside Edition told Wenig. ‘The strong feminist that she is!’

But the nerves may have caught up to Meghan as soon as the couple’s horse-drawn carriage finished its climb up the Long Walk.

When she thought the crowds were behind her and no one could see them anymore, Meghan turned to Harry and seemingly said, ‘Oh f***!’ as she put her hand over her chest.

But the moment was captured on camera for the viewing public to see. 

Harry and Meghan emerge from St George's Chapel as husband and wife

Harry and Meghan emerge from St George’s Chapel as husband and wife

According to lip reader Larry Wenig, Meghan said under her breath: 'Okay, let's kiss'

According to lip reader Larry Wenig, Meghan said under her breath: ‘Okay, let’s kiss’

Prince Harry and Meghan ride back to Windsor Castle in their open-top carriage

Prince Harry and Meghan ride back to Windsor Castle in their open-top carriage

Ms James noticed that Meghan had her hand over Harry's 'as though she was reassuring him'

Ms James noticed that Meghan had her hand over Harry’s ‘as though she was reassuring him’

Social media went into a frenzy as royal fans began to question what Meghan said, with some suggesting she had been so overwhelmed by the occasion, it had just slipped out.

One Twitter user exclaimed: ‘Turned the royal wedding on just in time to see Meghan definitely say “f***”. Absolute scenes.’

Another spluttered: ‘I swear I just saw Meghan say “f***” in the back of the carriage as she went through those gates lol.’

A third commented: ‘Meghan says “Oh f***!” as carriage enters private section of Long Walk. What a farce!’

The Daily Star claimed she ‘couldn’t be blamed for her reaction’ as she was faced with ‘incredible scenes’ of thousands of fans screaming her name.

Meghan-friendly US magazine The List said in a video: ‘Hey, it can happen to the best of us, especially if you are not used to getting driven around in carriages.’

And Metro wrote: ‘To be fair, doing an open-top procession in front of 100,000 people is not your everyday event so if she did have a momentary loss of control of her language, we think she can be forgiven.’

Whether or not she cursed is still up for debate, as no members of the public were close enough to overhear the couple at the time.

Indeed, some theorise Meghan simply said: ‘Oh, wow’.

Meghan waves to the crowds gathered to see the newlyweds

Meghan waves to the crowds gathered to see the newlyweds

As soon as she thought they were out of sight, Meghan turned to Harry and seemingly said, 'Oh f***!'

As soon as she thought they were out of sight, Meghan turned to Harry and seemingly said, ‘Oh f***!’

Whatever the case, it is truly impressive that it took Meghan that long to drop her calm and collected façade.

The newlyweds had just gone past an estimated 150,000 well-wishers as they made their first appearance as a married couple.

There is no doubt the sea of royal fans draped in Union flags would have been a lot for anyone to face, as some of the jubilant well-wishers had been camped out near the castle walls for days while others arrived as early as 4am to secure a good spot. 

Even Prince Harry seemed overwhelmed with one lip reading expert suggesting he said, ‘I’m ready for a drink now’ as the carriage trundled onwards to the lavish reception.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk