'He looked terribly awkward': Body language expert reveals the six tell-tale signs that prove why Meghan's easy confidence will be good for the 'shy' royal (who mimics his father's nervous gestures)

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They have finally announced that they are due to tie the knot after getting engaged earlier this month.

And Prince Harry and Meghan Markle looked the picture of happiness as they took part in their first official photo call at Kensington Palace today - despite the occasional 'nervous' gesture from the shy prince.

Body language expert Judi James tells MailOnline she believes 'informal, confident' Meghan is running the show while offering reassurance to camera-shy Harry, who can be seen to mimic his father's 'anxious' hand gestures.

Harry, 33, and his actress fiancée walked hand-in-hand through the gardens of his the west London residence on Monday, where the couple will set up home in Nottingham Cottage.

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Running the show: Judi, author of The Body Language Bible, says the redhead prince looked 'shocked with emotion and affection' while his partner is clearly 'the one with all the confidence' during their photo call today 

And Judi, author of The Body Language Bible, says the redhead prince appeared 'shocked with emotion and affection' while his partner is clearly 'the one with all the confidence'.

'Meghan was the one who rubbed his arm for reassurance twice,' Judi notes. 'He looked terribly shy and slightly awkward and gave "tie sign" – something a lot of Hollywood couples do when they’re on the red carpet to tell their partner when to turn for the camera.'

'It was interesting that Meghan was using little arm rubs with him and patting him. It was almost as though she was choreographing him to say, "Right, we’ll go up the steps and do some more pictures."' 

1. Harry's 'paperclip hand'

Eagle-eyed royal watchers spotted that Harry was making a bizarre 'paperclip' hand gesture at certain moments - something Judi says is a 'comfort thing'. She says: 'It’s almost using his hand as a paperclip to hold his jacket together'

Eagle-eyed royal watchers also noticed Harry was making a bizarre hand gesture at certain moments, tucking half of his right-hand fingers into his jacket - something Judi says is a 'comfort' indicator.

'It’s almost like he's using his hand as a paperclip to hold his jacket together,' Judi notes. 'Both he and William can be incredibly shy; but at the same time, Harry looks completely in love and slightly bewildered by it all.'

2. Working the cameras like a pro

Camera ready: The couple walk back into the Palace after their photo call, with Meghan happily waving at well-wishers

While Harry is used to taking part in public engagements, Meghan is a seasoned expert in front of the camera lens thanks to years spent treading the red carpet at glitzy Hollywood events.

'She’s quite grown up and more experienced in front of the camera than he is,' Judi explains. 'Surprisingly, that will probably be quite a good thing for him.

'We’ve seen the [public displays of affection] and we know they love each other because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other at the Invictus Games.

'[Today's photo call] should have been very formal but it was also incredibly tactile.'  

3. The ring

True love: The couple's appearance today came after weeks of fevered speculation that the pair were preparing to tie the knot, with bookies closing bets on their engagement late last week. Judi notes that 'laid back' Meghan was in no rush to show off her ring, with her hand hanging casually by her side

While most royal brides-to-be are keen to show off their engagement ring, Judi notes, Meghan let her diamond dazzler hang casually by her side.

'She’s obviously got a more casual attitude, but I think it’s going to be very good for him,' she says. 'Harry has always been the one who's allowed to be incredibly informal and this is the first time he’s been formal with a partner.

'It will be Harry's first stab at the Buckingham Palace stuff he has been able to cheerfully avoid for most of his life. He’s not naturally good at the formal stuff, but Meghan is good at it because of her job.'

4. Mimicking Charles

Like father, like son: 'Harry has started to mimic his father’s hand rituals, which are self-comfort gestures,' Judi says. 'Charles often pats his pockets and touches his stomach, and now Harry is doing the same' [Harry pictured here with his hand against his pocket]

'Harry has started to mimic his father’s hand rituals, which are self-comfort gestures,' Judi says. 'Charles often pats his pockets and touches his stomach, and now Harry is doing the same. 

'It shows a lot of admiration for his father, but also a feeling of being slightly nervous and under attack from the cameras.'

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It's the good news we've all been waiting to hear. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged!

We're already big fans of Meghan's wardrobe, but now that the Suits actress will officially be joining the Royal family when the couple tie the knot, she's right up there with the Duchess of Cambridge on our list of people whose style we want to copy.

The pair posed for a photocall in the gardens of Kensington Palace after announcing that Harry has popped the question, and of course the bride-to-be looked beautiful. We can't wait to see what she'll wear to walk down the aisle, but this chic coat will keep us ticking over until next year!

Meghan made her debut as Harry's fiancée wearing a belted wrap coat by Line the Label in an appropriately bridal shade of white. When layered over a green dress by P.A.R.O.S.H. and teamed with nude heels by Aquazzura, it's a very regal look that we're all going to remember.

Her exact coat isn't available to buy, but click through to make sure this Canadian brand is on your radar. Or with Meghan in mind, wrap up in one of the lookalike coats we've got lined up for you in the edit below.

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5. 'Outstanding' Meghan leading her Prince

Leading her prince: Meghan could be seen wrapping a protective arm around her fiancé and tenderly patting his back

Judi notes: '[Meghan] has this trait of putting her hands on top of this. The person who does this is normally the one in control – she’s leading the game'

As they walked around the garden, Meghan could be seen wrapping a protective arm around her fiancé and tenderly patting his back. 

'The dramatic thing was that she was leading him, just like a professional dancer leading the amateur on Strictly,' says Judi. 'She was leading the choreography rather than him, which is quite outstanding for a royal couple.

'She also has this trait of putting her hands on top of this. The person who does this is normally the one in control – she’s leading the game.' 

6. Easy confidence is a breath of fresh air

Striding into the limelight: Meghan. Speaking about Meghan's easy confidence, Judi says: 'I don’t think she’s going to be overwhelmed by royal protocol. She won’t be putting a foot out of line but she'll be a breath of fresh air for the Royal family'

'These two are a lot more tactile that your average royal couple,' Judi notes. 'I don’t think she’s going to be overwhelmed by royal protocol. She won’t be putting a foot out of line but she'll be a breath of fresh air for the Royal family.' 

Judi adds: 'They looked incredibly happy. Harry almost looks shocked with emotion and affection. I think we’ll see the two of them very well matched.' 

A very modern romance: How Meghan and Harry became the Royal family's most surprising love story 

The couple set Twitter alight after announcing their happy news via Clarence House this morning, with Harry's father the Prince of Wales said to be 'delighted'.

It came after weeks of fevered speculation that the pair were preparing to tie the knot, with bookies closing bets on their engagement late last week.

The couple, who have been dating for 16 months, got engaged in London earlier this month with Meghan, who recently turned 36, preparing to move to the UK capital from her home in Toronto.

Their whirlwind romance has gone from strength to strength after they were introduced through friends in London in July 2016, with the pair making regular transatlantic trips to see each other. 

In August they jetted out to Botswana to celebrate Meghan's 36th birthday.

Love story: The couple put in their first public appearance while watching the Invictus Games in Toronto in September

And a few weeks later, the Suits star gave a remarkably candid interview with Vanity Fair magazine where she spoke for the first time about her love affair with the fifth-in-line to the throne - confirming that they were ;very much in love'.

The actress also appeared to hint that while an engagement could soon be on the cards, the couple would continue to keep their 'love story' private and stay firmly away from the spotlight for the time being.

Addressing their need for privacy, the actress added: 'This is for us. It’s part of what makes it so special, that it’s just ours. But we’re happy. Personally, I love a great love story.'

Until now, the fiercely private couple had only been spotted in public together on a handful of occasions - with Harry allegedly making secret trips to pick her up from the airport on her trips to the UK.

Meghan made her society debut when she watched Harry perform at a polo match in May, and earlier this year she joined him at the Jamaican wedding of the royal's close friend Tom Inskip.

When asked how she felt about the media frenzy that erupted after their relationship was revealed last year, Meghan replied: 'It has its challenges, and it comes in waves — some days it can feel more challenging than others.

'And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed. But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriend’s support.'

She added: 'I can tell you that at the end of the day I think it’s really simple. We’re two people who are really happy and in love.' 

According to Buckingham Palace, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are thrilled for the couple and 'wish them every happiness'.

Harry and Meghan are due to give a broadcast interview on Monday evening.