Since joining the royal family for the first time in 2011, many commentators have noted that the Duchess of Cambridge has gained a great deal of confidence.

On the other hand, Princess Diana, a widely beloved figure at the time, always displayed a distinctive shyness throughout her years in the public eye. Darren Stanton, an expert on body language, sees shyness reflected in photographs of Kate Middleton in the early years of their marriage.

"Kate was definitely more reserved when she first stepped into the spotlight a few years ago," Stanton told Marie Claire on behalf of Slingo (open in new tab). 'She behaved in much the same way Princess Diana did when she first got engaged to Prince Charles. Kate was always close to William and kept looking in his direction, seeking his approval and reassurance."

"It is clear that Kate is now less dependent on William and maintains a delicate distance from her husband, even when she is out with him.

"Kate also used to put her hands in front of her head, another gesture of self-assurance that expressed her anxious feelings. Recently, however, she has instead made an open palm gesture. The difference in the way her hands clasped during the engagement suggests that she is now stepping into the larger shoes of an established member of the royal family"

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But even if the Duchess of Cambridge was a slow burner (and who wouldn't be in her position?), the Duchess of Sussex was always confident, according to Stanton.

"While Kate has undoubtedly evolved over time in the spotlight, Meghan has maintained a sense of confidence and strength," the expert says.

"Throughout her relationship with Harry, she has even been seen reassuring and leading him when the couple makes public appearances together."

For Stanton, this confidence stems in part from Meghan Markle's experience as an actress.

"In the early days of joining the royal family, Meghan was already accustomed to being in public and showed a high level of confidence when out with Harry," he says. [At the time, Kate and William had gone to great lengths to make her feel welcome and part of the family, and observing the body language of their interactions at the time, they clearly shared a bond and were consistent with being very close individuals."

"All four regularly matched or mirrored each other's gestures and postures. This is an unconscious process that occurs when people connect and build rapport. It is a sign of mutual trust on a nonverbal level.

Sadly, that bond seems to have been damaged, if not broken, at least considerably in recent months.