Body language expert reveals photos that prove Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have gone from close pals to ‘awkward’ acquaintances
Royal reports claim the two duchesses have a 'frosty relationship'
THEIR relationship has been dubbed "extraordinarily tense" and cited as the reason Prince Harry is moving away from his brother Prince William.
As rumours of a royal rift continue to swirl around Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, body language expert Judi James analyses the telling pictures that show how the pair have moved from close pals to "awkward" acquaintances...
Christmas 2017 - Smiling sisters-in-law
In the beginning, it appears Meghan used Kate as one of her role models to help her integrate into royal life and adjust to its protocols.
Last Christmas Meghan joined the Royal Family to attend a morning service at Sandringham Church.
Meghan and Kate's mirrored smiles as they watch Prince Philip hint that the two women might have grown into a shared approach or like-minded thinking, bordering on fun, during the more formal royal get-together.
The difference in their experience showed in the style of curtsy the women performed: Kate smiles in greeting as Meghan lowers her head and bends her knee.
At this stage Meghan was very much still in her induction period and learning on the job.
February 2018 - Mirror image
In February Kate and Meghan attended the first annual Royal Foundation Forum to showcase the programmes run or initiated by The Royal Foundation.
While the two women were on stage, there was some superficial postural mirroring - Meghan mimicked pregnant Kate's legs crossed at the ankle pose.
She also performs a facial cut off with her hand in a fun gesture while Kate laughs.
Interestingly, this was the event that first displayed the sizeable gap appearing between the two couples.
Meghan spoke quickly, confidently and with passion about the cause, despite the fact that it was Kate's project.
While Kate grinned at Harry, his empathy signals were clearly aimed at Meghan, who regularly touched his leg in a sign of ownership.
June 2018 - Cracks start to appear
Less than a month after Meghan and Harry's wedding in May, she and Kate were pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour.
Kate is a consummate traditionalist and perfectionist when it comes to formal outings - and as Queen-to-be she took her place standing in front of Meghan.
Although she did look back to communicate with her sister-in-law, Meghan was spotted performing her signature hair touch gesture as a partial cut off, suggesting some awkwardness.
There's a moment where Kate faces front, appearing to cough, during which Meghan covers her mouth, suggesting she's hiding a naughty smile.
July 2018 - Veneer of friendliness
In July Meghan and Kate attended Wimbledon together, which signalled an apparent attempt to move their relationship on from sisters-in-law to pals.
They clearly both put effort into flagging up a sense of closeness and rapport, with a hint that shared outings and shopping trips might be a regular feature for the wives of Windsor.
The closeness of their heads in these poses suggests trust and shared collusion, or a sense of confiding, while the downward tilt of both their shoulder angles illustrate a desire to get closer.
Kate even appears to lean in and whisper in Meghan's ear as she speaks to her.
Although there were clearly several displays of what seemed to be moments of genuine closeness and growing friendship at Wimbledon, with the head closeness, giggling together and signals of confiding, much of that evaporates when they stand to applaud when a spatial distance suggests rather different approaches and personalities.
October 2018 - Meghan grows colder
At Princess Eugenie's wedding in October, Kate was pictured leaning in and using eye contact to engage with Harry in the pews.
Meghan used eye contact to partially engage, but she kept some distance rather than leaning in to share.
Her signature hair touch gesture was back, signalling an apparent sense of mild awkwardness.
November 2018 - 'Relaxed' Kate v 'rigid' Meghan
Earlier this month both Meghan and Kate appeared in the first official family photo since Prince Louis' christening to mark Prince Charles' 70th birthday.
Kate enjoys her longer-term experience as a royal here, grinning happily as baby Louis tries to grab at grandpa's eyeball. Meghan is so much newer to the family - and it shows as she stands at the end of the group with both arms held rigidly down at her sides, watching politely.
Kate is now taking a relaxed matriarchal role during royal family events and her body language here reflects the natural ease and confidence that has built up over the years.
For Meghan the approach is still rather more formal and careful as she poses almost to attention at the side of the line up.
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Judi previously claimed it's no surprise "sexual" Meghan and "introvert" Kate are having a "royal rift".
Yesterday Kate Middleton played down the rift rumours between her and Meghan, revealing she can’t wait for the new royal baby.
Meanwhile it has been suggested Prince Harry was annoyed that his brother had not “rolled out the red carpet” for Meghan and made her feel more welcome in The Firm.