Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their first public outing. Photo / Getty Images
They looked the picture of happiness as they announced their engagement on Monday. And Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put on yet another tactile display as they stepped out for their first public engagement together in Nottingham today.
Body language expert Judi James says Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, differ from previous royal couples because they appear to be presenting themselves as a 'unit', showing themselves to be perfectly in sync, the Daily Mail reports.
With both Charles and Diana, and William and Kate, she notes the men have been 'eclipsed' by their partners, instead taking a 'back seat'.
Judi, author of The Body Language Bible, says that Harry and Meghan are also a lot more tactile than other royal couples.
In fact, she points to six signs that show the couple are already very confident in their public role together, as well as their obvious love for each other.
Harry and Meghan were seen holding hands as they arrived in Nottingham, as they did when they appeared together outside Kensington Palace following their engagement announcement on Monday.
Judi notes that their very touch-feely display shows how clearly in love the couple are, despite previous royal couples not being so tactile in public.
"It's a very natural behaviour that's uncommon in the royal family," she explained. "They're using touch to show that they're in love and they can show that to each other."
Meghan was seen greeting well-wishers separately from Harry during her first walkabout, as well as together with her husband-to-be.
Judi says that this is a sign of her enormous confidence - as well as the prince's faith in her.
"There was none of the anxiety that you could see with Diana and Kate," she says.
She added: "Harry's not telling her what to do, he's not giving her anxious glances. He works with her and works apart."
6. Maternal touch
While there was more of an even balance between Meghan and Harry in terms of confidence levels, Judi did note something rather 'maternal' about the actress's body language.
She said that her touching his arm and patting his back could be seen as 'signs of reassurance' to the prince.
The body language expert says that this is similar to when Meghan was seen putting a protective arm around Harry during the photocall outside Kensington Palace on Monday.