Meghan Markle's new Netflix programme, With Love, Meghan Holiday Celebration, has generated intense scrutiny after a prominent analyst argued the special functioned less as a festive guide and more as a demonstration of what she described as subtle "dominance rituals." The holiday episode, which debuted December 3, was promoted as an intimate look at the Duchess of Sussex's approach to seasonal traditions. But body-language expert Judi James said Markle's performance communicated "shown, spoken, and implied" authority rather than casual holiday cheer.
James focused on gestures and vocal shifts that she said elevated familiar activities-such as crafting holiday crackers-into displays of control. Her analysis, which spread widely online following the premiere, asserts that Markle's communication style appeared to adopt the cadence and posture of an instructor rather than that of a host. The Duchess, 44, repeatedly delivered what James described as "dramatic, emphatic body language displays," suggesting deeper meaning behind otherwise light-hearted content.
One of the most scrutinised moments involved Markle's demonstration of making Christmas crackers. James pointed to a moment where Meghan delivers what she called a "splicing gesture," placing her hand on her forehead and bowing slightly. According to James, this movement is meant "to suggest the pain of those getting this wrong in the past and closing her eyes in a moment of meditation and self-respect." She added that the gesture appears elsewhere in Markle's public repertoire, often when she emphasises "how hard she works."
James also highlighted the Duchess's delivery when discussing "grace," which Markle called the "key to Holidays." The expert observed: "Meghan shakes her head slowly here and purses her lips as though revealing the meaning of life," noting that Markle reinforced the message by placing "her hands on her chest to repeat this message with even more meaning," particularly when she added, "Grace is about making people feel comfortable."
The special also featured a brief affectionate exchange between Markle and Prince Harry, 41, which James described in notably softer terms. "There is a moment of tender affection," she said, "as she does a twirl round while he places a tentative and politely distanced arm on her waist as he bends his head to perform a very mutually-loving kiss on the mouth." But James argued that Markle's tone and gestures shifted decisively depending on whether she was addressing guests or the camera alone.
When interacting with others, James said Meghan "adopts gestures and the vocal tone of the authoritative expert who is teaching her team," whereas solo kitchen scenes conveyed what she termed a "'first-time' in the kitchen." She argued that transitions between imperfect moments and polished results happened quickly, stating, "There are moments where things get glossed over, like the cracker-making. This would suggest a stage of messy failure, but Meghan's training tone means we tend to flip to good outcomes rather quickly."
The kitchen itself became another focal point for criticism. James noted that "all her pans and equipment look like they've literally just come out of the delivery box, giving a slightly surreal look to her kitchen," and pointed to Markle's "long hair, pajama sleeves, and rings getting perilously close and involved in a way that suggests it's the looks that count over the practicals." These observations revived an earlier controversy in which critics labelled Markle "Salmonella Sussex" after she handled raw Thanksgiving turkey while wearing jewellery, prompting concerns about cross-contamination.
