'Harry was nervous' Four body language signs Meghan Markle took charge at engagement shoot

Meghan Markle, 36, and Prince Harry, 33, are engaged, Clarence House revealed this morning in a Twitter announcement.

The couple’s relationship has been getting more and more serious by the day, with royal insiders giving away clues an engagement was imminent.

As the pair entertained the press at the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, which was recently renamed The White Garden; they locked fingers and their smiles were brimming.

But what else did the newly-engaged couple’s body language reveal? Author and body language expert Judi James told Express.co.uk her take on the couple’s official engagement pictures.

Who took charge during the photo call?

While many would expect to see Harry confidently leading his bride-to-be through the engagement photo-call, the couple’s body language suggested it was Meghan happily in charge of the choreography, according to Judi. 

Here “reassurance signals to a rather nervous-but-besotted-looking Harry from start to finish” gave this away.

When Meghan and Harry glanced at each other 

Judi said: “When the couple’s eyes met you could see the all the signs of pure happiness that we saw at the Invictus Games but at this outing it was Harry looking shy and rather anxious while Meghan clutched his hand in both of hers in an act of contagious confidence.

“Harry’s anxiety rituals have increased recently and he performed the rather odd jacket clasp and stomach-pat that we saw during his formal poses in Canada.” 

When Meghan rubbed Harry’s arm

According to Judi, Harry looked almost too nervous to smile but was rewarded with an arm-rub from Meghan that helped him to relax as he posed.

Judi said: “Meghan patted his arm to end the posing and it was Meghan who got the first royal wave in while Harry followed suit a few seconds later.”

“Keeping the PDAs going from Canada, Meghan clasped his arm and leaned in as they stood together and had to be reminded to show a flash of the ring.”

When the couple walked off through the gardens together

As they walked off through the gardens though their body language apparently became more evenly-balanced again. 

Judi said: “They entwined arms and grinned at one another in a much more relaxed way. 

“Harry is always known for his more casual style and it’s good to see that Meghan will be there to bolster him up during the more formal royal moments.”

While royal fans were eager to see the couple’s interactions with one another, eagle-eyed watchers have also been keen to see what Meghan’s engagement ring looks like. 

What did Harry design for his future wife and was it his mother’s, Princess Diana’s?