Prince Harry 'overwhelmed' by awards ceremony as expert reveals what vacant stare means
EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry took to the stage to accept the Pat Tillman Award for Service following a backlash over the decision to hand the accolade to him.
Prince Harry looked "surprised and overwhelmed" when receiving an award in the US last night as a leading body language explained what his vacant stare on stage really means.
The Duke of Sussex, who was accompanied by wife Meghan Markle, was honoured at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, where he received the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
He was recognised for founding the Invictus Games in 2014. The award is named after former NFL player and US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004.
Harry arrived at the lavish event in Los Angeles off the back of a furious backlash from many who believed he wasn't a worthy recipient of the award.
Body language expert Judi James explained the tell-tale signs that showed how nervous he was feeling as he was announced on stage to collect his award.
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She told Express.co.uk: "Harry’s visually-emphatic puffing out of air as he steps up onto the stage looks like a performative expression of a release of pressure and a desire to appear 'humble', which of course dressing up to hear applause as you stand clutching your award is, by definition, not.
"His hugs and his 'stay here with me' to the host and presenters keeps with this theme of not really wanting the attention and he even manages to look shocked, surprised and overwhelmed, when the whole world already knew he was getting this award."
Ms James also explained the gestures from Harry while he was on stage, before his body language suddenly changed when he began talking about the Invictus Games.
She continued: "His eyes stare out in emotion and 'disbelief' before he re-boots to the theme of Invictus, where he is free to adopt a more campaigning style of resilient and even defiant-looking body language, splaying his legs and gritting his teeth in a pose of determination to promote the cause."
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During his acceptance speech at the ESPY Awards, Harry gave an emotional nod to his late mother Princess Diana, but not before he and Meghan were the butt of host and close pal Serena Williams' joke.
The Duke of Sussex expressed his "biggest gratitude to everyone in the Pat Tillman foundation" and acknowledged his mother Mary Tillman, saying: "Her advocacy for Pat's legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect."
Then in a sweet nod to Princess Diana, he added: "The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest loses."
