Queen and Meghan giggled together like teenagers, says body language expert

The Duchess of Sussex showed her nerves on her first joint engagement with the Queen, but there was genuine warmth between the monarch and Meghan, a body language expert said.

Judi James said the head of state and the former Suits star giggled together like teenagers at one point as they enjoyed their day out in Cheshire.

Ms James said: "The Queen doesn't indulge in worries and she didn't spend a lot of time checking on Meghan, but instead let her get on with it.

"But when she did glance at her, it was with a beaming smile and approval."

She added: "The Queen was the happiest I've seen her in a long time. They looked like naughty teenagers giggling together at one point.

"Meghan was still being very careful. She sat with her legs crossed at the ankles and was clearly seeking approval."

The newlywed duchess, who married the Duke of Sussex in a star-studded ceremony in Windsor last month, was nervous, repeatedly touching her hair.

Ms James suggested: "Meghan did so many self-checking gestures of anxiety which is interesting in such a confident woman.

"She walked up the aisle on her own without batting an eyelid."

The duchess's outfit - a beige Givenchy dress with caped shoulders - may have not been the ideal choice, Ms James said.

"I think her outfit did her no favours. The caped shoulders restricted her arms and she lost some of her more natural movements."

Ms James described the monarch as having young body language for a woman of 92.

"She looked positively girlish. When she smiles you can see the young princess coming out. She's got a beautiful childlike smile and her little hands were formed into fists at one point.

"Perhaps Meghan did bring a little bit more of that out in her.

"We saw displays which showed the pair genuinely having fun."

Ms James said the Queen was similarly beaming with smiles when she carried out her first joint engagement with the Duchess of Cambridge.