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What you missed in Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s new royal family photos

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have recently released new royal family photos, and there’s more to them than meets the naked eye.

"We're just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy": Prince Harry

Contrived and staged, Meghan Markle’s acting streak is shining through her latest photos while Kate Middleton is ‘genuine’ and composed.

Amid rumours of a feud between the sisters-in-law, the way they carry themselves in public couldn’t be more different, according to a body language expert.

The Duchess of Cambridge today appeared in a series of photos with her husband, Prince William, and their children, taken at the Chelsea Flower Show.

While new images of Meghan Markle’s wedding day were released, to coincide with her and Prince Harry’s first anniversary.

Both sets of images gave a glaringly differing insight into the way the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge are approaching their royal roles … and relationships.

‘Genuine’. The Duchess of Cambridge and her youngest child, Prince Louis, at the Chelsea Flower Show. Picture: Getty Images
‘Genuine’. The Duchess of Cambridge and her youngest child, Prince Louis, at the Chelsea Flower Show. Picture: Getty Images

“Kate always looks genuine. She is a consummate professional,” said body language analyst Dr Louise Mahler.

“Those two (William and Kate) are never candid, they are always on film. They live their work 24 hours a day.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge poses for a photo in the Adam White and Andree Davies co-designed 'Back to Nature' garden during build week ahead of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Picture: AP
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge poses for a photo in the Adam White and Andree Davies co-designed 'Back to Nature' garden during build week ahead of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Picture: AP

“They’re not different people behind closed doors. They are those roles 24 hours a day.”

She added that with Kate, she is “always smiling, you never see a nasty face”. As a unit, she and Prince William are “never caught out” in the public eye.

“I don’t get any anger or nastiness (in their body language).”

Kate Middleton, right, is always polished in front of the camera, a body language expert says. Picture: Getty Images
Kate Middleton, right, is always polished in front of the camera, a body language expert says. Picture: Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge, far right, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, while Prince William keeps an eye on Prince Louis at the Chelsea Flower Show. Picture: Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge, far right, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, while Prince William keeps an eye on Prince Louis at the Chelsea Flower Show. Picture: Getty Images

Meantime, the Duchess of Sussex was seen in a series of new photos released to mark her first wedding anniversary to Prince Harry.

The stunning images were released in an Instagram video, set to the song This Little Light of Mine, on the couple’s Instagram account, featuring Meghan, Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles, as well as Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, in candid moments including Harry signing the wedding certificate and Charles and Meghan walking down the aisle at St George’s Chapel.

Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.
Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.
Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.
Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.
Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.
Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.
Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.
Screengrabs from a video posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page to celebrate one year since the marriage of Prince to Meghan.

But Meghan’s body language suggests the shots were more contrived than they appeared.

“They’re just staged photos,” Dr Mahler told News Corp Australia today.

“They’re not candid. It’s (trying to be) ‘they are impromptu, Harry looking into the distance’. It’s all staged.

“They’re beautiful and a very happy moment. I think she has been caught out lately, with the hair touching and the way she was holding on to Harry and the baby, like she was holding both of them.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry showed off baby Archie earlier this month at Windsor Castle. Picture: Getty Images
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry showed off baby Archie earlier this month at Windsor Castle. Picture: Getty Images

Earlier this month, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry beamed as they showed off their baby Archie for the first time. But their body language was much more telling.

Cradling the bub — whose full name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor — Harry’s stance suggested he was being “protective” as the royal couple showed him off for the first time in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.

And Meghan’s constant hair touching was indicative of slight “awkwardness”.

“He’s protective of the baby and so is she. She’s sort of holding the both of them as the baby as if they’re one,” Dr Mahler told News Corp Australia at the time.

Meghan Markle played with her hair during this photo call, indicating she was nervous. Picture: Getty Images
Meghan Markle played with her hair during this photo call, indicating she was nervous. Picture: Getty Images

In footage of the occasion, Dr Mahler said: “Her awkwardness shows by the constant hair touching and the way she walks, she stumbles slightly and loses her balance”.

“Her eyes were blinking a lot too,” she added.

“How brave is she to come out two days after she’s had a baby with such professionalism. This is two people who adore the baby.”

In a tender moment, Meghan — who wore a white tuxedo dress by British fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner — was pictured with her arm around Harry as the couple left the closed media call.

“It’s a similar stance and touch to their engagement photo. The difference is, in the engagement one he is looking at her. In this one, he is looking at the baby,” Mahler said.

“She’s not just standing with her arm around him, she’s moving behind him constantly.

“She never normally does that.”

Originally published as What you missed in Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s new royal family photos

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/real-story-behind-kate-middleton-and-meghan-markles-photos/news-story/3932d4917277c52c9d200cbfb7f3c63a