Someone needs to sit Harry and Meghan Markle down, put them through different public-engagement scenarios and make them watch the footage back until they understand how ridiculous they look. How are two middle-aged adults still so incapable of letting a moment happen without turning it into a performance? Even children know the difference between genuinely enjoying something and putting on a show for an audience. Meghan cheering a basic pool shot like she’s just won the World Cup is a perfect example. Everyone else in that room had a perfectly normal reaction yet she’s throwing herself into a full theatrical production, complete with exaggerated laughter, dramatic gestures and “That’s so good, I’m so glad I came!” He potted a ball, Meghan. RELAX. Your energy should match your surroundings. But Meghan seemed determined to turn an ordinary pool shot into a major event. The more underwhelming the setting and activity, the harder she seems to work to manufacture excitement. The reaction gets louder, the gestures get bigger and the whole thing becomes more awkward. She’s trying so desperately to sell the image of a warm, spontaneous, relatable woman having the time of her life that she ends up looking like she’s acting out a character. When you have to perform enthusiasm this hard, you only draw attention to the performance. Instead of constantly trying to compete with the Waleses, the Sussexes could learn a thing or two from them about how to conduct themselves at public engagements. First, pay attention to the people and the activity in front of you instead of thinking about how you’re coming across on camera. Be present. Let the moment happen without trying to turn it into a scene. Their team should set up different scenarios, let them practise, and then make them watch the footage back. Perhaps they might finally recognise that you cannot manufacture authenticity by performing for the cameras, and enthusiasm is not more convincing simply because you exaggerate it. They need to stop treating every public appearance like an audition and learn that sometimes the most natural thing you can do is simply react like everyone else in the room.