The Subtle Difference You Didn’t Notice Between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton’s Photos

Meghan may no longer be a royal, but the way she posed for photos when she was points to a significant difference between her and Kate's personalities.

It’s been a full year since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped back from their royal duties. (Remember when that was the biggest news of 2020?!) That meant the end of “official” royal photos for the Duchess of Sussex—and of Meghan and Kate being chummy on camera together. But photos from Meghan’s royal days are still out there, and there’s a subtle difference between the way she and her sister-in-law pose in their photos. While you’ve probably never noticed it before, body language experts say it speaks volumes about their personalities. And while we’re on the subject, here are 13 photos of Harry and Meghan, analyzed by a body language expert.

Meghan, for one, tended to look straight into the cameras. This made her seem accessible, welcoming, and confident, according to experts. “Although Meghan is the same age as Kate, there is a virtual generational difference in their relationships with the camera,” Judi James, author of The Body Language Bible, told Cosmopolitan UK. “Like many young women of the selfie generation, Meghan’s habit of doing what is called ‘camera courting’ (addressing the camera with a direct gaze), suggests a desire to communicate openly and confidently in the way that her peers would do via social media and blogs.” Check out Meghan’s stunning style transformation as a royal.

GEOFF CADDICK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge hardly ever makes direct eye contact with the cameras, preferring to look away. To James, that habit suggests she might have a more reserved or passive personality. “The fact she has even got behind the camera herself to snap some of her children’s official photos suggests a slightly more introverted personality than the camera-confident Meghan,” James said. “She poses beautifully but there is no regular direct communication from her.” Here are 13 photos of Kate Middleton and Prince William, analyzed by a body language expert.

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For more behind-the-scenes info on these two Duchesses, these are the things Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton inherited from Princess Diana.

Sources:

  • The Independent: “THE WAY MEGHAN MARKLE AND KATE MIDDLETON POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHS SAYS A LOT ABOUT THEIR PERSONALITIES, EXPERT CLAIMS”
  • Cosmopolitan UK: “The one big difference between how Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have their photos taken”

Brooke Nelson Alexander
Brooke is a tech and consumer products writer covering the latest in digital trends, product reviews, security and privacy, and other news and features for Reader's Digest. She's a two-time Emmy-nominated reporter with nearly 10 years of publishing experience, and her work has been recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.