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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kyle O'Sullivan

Mike Tindall had awkward Harry and Meghan 'dilemma' because of 'closeness to William'

Mike Tindall 's relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been thrust into the spotlight after an awkward reunion.

The former rugby player and wife Zara TIndall were seen standing with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Harry and Meghan were notably absent from most of the public events - and all eyes were on the pair when they met up with other royals on June 3.

While Zara, who is the Queen's grandaughter, was seen happilly chatting away to her cousin Harry, the same could not be said for her husband.

In footage that was seen on TV, Mike appeared to visibly avoid speaking to the Sussexesat the end of the service and was staring off into the distance with a 'look of awkwardness'.

That's according to body language expert Judi James, who believe that Mike's loyalties to Prince William 'created a dilemna'.

Mike (right) appeared to visibly avoid speaking to Prince Harry after the Queen's thanksgiving service (Getty Images)

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"With Mike’s closeness to William in mind it also appeared to have created a bit of a dilemma as Harry stepped out into Zara’s group as they waited for their transport," Judi explained to the Express.

"Zara looks happy to chat and even turns fully to talk to Harry here, who is looking anxious and keen to get into his own car.

"Mike though remains facing forward, looking about and holding his order of service up with a look of awkwardness.

In the end he talks to Viscount Lindley, who turns his own back on Harry, cutting the two men off from Zara’s conversation with Harry.

"This doesn’t appear to be Mike’s normal style of behaviour as he usually looks too easy-going and too tough to get involved in politics and it could be that his attention was taken arranging the right cars, but there are no signs of any farewell from him, either."

This comes as it's reported that he called Harry a "b***end" during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A source told the Express he overheard the former English rugby player referring to the Duke of Sussex's behaviour as that of a "b***end".

Prince Harry with Mike and the Cambridges in April 2019 (Tim Rooke/REX)

Judi believes there was a potential challenge for all of the royals in terms of 'loyalties and taking sides'.

The expert said the recent body language between Mike and William has revealed the incredibly close ties between the men.

"Their play-fight and their intense hugging goes beyond friendship and into affection and closeness that looks like brotherly or even paternal love," she added.

Harry and Meghan were sat in the second row of the congregation next to Princess Beatrice and Eugenie - and they all seemed to be in high spirits.

The giggling Duke of Sussex could be seen looking relaxed in the pews as he shared a joke with Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank.

Beatrice, sitting a few seats down, could also be seen grinning in the same direction, while Meghan could be seen to chatting to Lady Sarah Chatto, the Queen's niece.

A lip reader revealed to the Mirror the compliment Harry seemingly paid his cousin Zara as they were reunited.

Mike and William have always been close (James Veysey/REX)

According to professional lip reader Jeremy Freeman, Harry told Zara, who had just given birth to son Lucas when they were last together in public: "You lost some weight."

In reply, he believes Zara possibly told her cousin: "No I haven't, how do you know" before Harry appears to have added: "I know, nice in pink! I didn’t know whether you’d wear blue, pink, orange, green,… grey".

But it wasn't just Harry who was keen to compliment Zara, who looked gorgeous in a bright pink dress with matching hat.

According to Mr Freeman, Meghan also told the mum-of three: "Well done you look great."

There was a loud reaction as a smiling Harry and Meghan arrived at the cathedral and were greeted at the west door by the Dean of St Paul's cheers drowned them out.

They spent a few minutes talking to the senior cleric before they entered the place of worship and proceeded to greet the long line of clergy who are taking part in the service of thanksgiving.

It was the first time Meghan and Kate have been pictured together since the Duchess of Sussex claimed her sister-in-law made her cry in an interview with Oprah.

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