Meghan Markle vs Kate Middleton style: What does THIS 'contrast' in engagement snaps mean?

Meghan Markle, 37, and Prince Harry, 34 , tied the knot at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, back in May this year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex publicly announced their engagement to the world months earlier, on November 27 2017.

Ahead of the anniversary, it’s time to take a look back at the happy couple’s official engagement portraits.

And, with Prince William and his now-wife Kate Middleton, both 36, having announced their own plans to marry on November 16 in 2010 – how do the photos compare to that of the fellow royals?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have become known as the Fab Four, with everything from their body language to their outfit choices being closely studied from across the globe.

While Kate and Meghan spend their days focusing on charity work and their royal duties, their sophisticated ensembles have seen them become widely considered as style icons.

Style – Meghan Markle

Last year, the Duchess of Sussex and her then-fiancé Prince Harry were pictured in the grounds of Kensington Palace, hours after Clarence House shared the exciting engagement news.

The former Suits actress was the epitome of elegance in a white coat.

She also sported a green dress and heels for the official pictures, while Prince Harry sported a blue suit.

Meghan wore her long brunette locks in sleek curls, which cascaded around her shoulders from a centre parting.

As the happy couple posed for the snaps, Meghan unveiled the incredible engagement ring she had been given by the Prince.

Style – Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton and her then-fiancé Prince William also posed for an official photocall after revealing their engagement news to the world – back in 2010.

However, as opposed to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the pair were pictured indoors.

Prince William looked dapper in a dark blue suit, which he teamed with a sophisticated purple tie.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton sported a mid-length blue dress, which featured a wrap design at her waistline.

The late Princess Diana also sported a blue dress for her own official engagement pictures with Charles, Prince of Wales, now 70, back in February 1981.

Body language

Ahead of the first anniversary of the pair’s engagement photocall, body language expert Judi James shared her thoughts on the snaps.

In one photo, Meghan and Prince Harry can be seen smiling as they gaze at the direction of the camera.

Judi explained: “The eye contact has gone again with this pose, which has Harry looking off out of shot although wearing the smile of a guy who can’t quite believe his luck while Meghan announces her acting credentials by pinning the camera bang-on with a bright, excited eye expression and a perfect smile.

“You can see Harry’s awkwardness from the rather wooden hand he has place on his own hip but Meghan’s straight leg position oozes confidence, as does her ring hand, which is placed on Harry’s torso in a possessive gesture that is regularly used by Hollywood power couples on the red carpet.”

The expert went on to explain that the couple showed another side of their romance in the snap, adding: “The more flirty, sexual and tactile side of their relationship is obvious from the way Meghan has pressed her torso into Harry’s.”

Judi went on to discuss how Meghan’s posing differed from other engagement pictures released by the family – including those of fellow senior royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

“With Meghan appearing to be in charge of the pose, it places this couple a world away from the more submissive pose from Princess Diana and the easy-going tactile nature is in contrast to Prince William and Kate’s more formal look.”

Judi also took a look back at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement photos, which showed the duo gazing at one another as they linked arms.

“As though learning lessons from the past, Prince William presented his bride-to-be in a formal royal style with very little in the way of body language clues to suggest anything about their true emotions or even Kate’s real personality,” the specialist insisted.

“It appeared to be a meeting of near-equals, with the pair standing side by side with mirrored, front-facing torsos and some eye-to-eye gazing.”

However, Judi picked up on one action from the Duchess of Cambridge, which made their body language differ.

“The way Kate crossed her legs at the ankles was a pseudo-infantile, self-diminishing gesture though, lowering her status and levels of confidence slightly next to her husband to be,” she claimed.

“In contrast, her facial expression as she gazed at him seemed to be throwing up something of a loving challenge while his softened features really did form the look of love.”