From her very first royal engagement in December 2017, Meghan has been poised and confident in the limelight - but lately she's been careful to ensure her star power doesn't eclipse her husband.

According to body language expert Judi James, the former Suits star 37, initially seemed to have the upper hand, dominating the conversation in their engagement interview. 

However, since becoming a member of the royal family in May when she married Harry she realized that 'a constant scene-stealing trait from Meghan could have alienated the public and her husband'.

She's started using techniques such as standing slightly behind Harry at events and allowing him to ferry her along when they're holding hands. 

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Body language expert Judi James claims that Meghan - pictured with Harry at the Sentebale Polo Cup in July 2018 in Berkshire - uses maternal gestures such as patting her husband on the back to subtly assert her power without upstaging her royal husband But that's not to say that Meghan has become submissive as she uses 'quasi maternal' gestures such as rubbing Harry's back to secure 

'All successful marriages are based on finely-tuned and often fluctuating power signals that form a complimentary ‘fit’ for the couple,' Judi told Femail. 

POWER IN MEGHAN'S HANDS

When Meghan and Harry's engagement was first announced the power was firmly in the former Suits star's hands.  

'Meghan arrived in the UK as a confident, eloquent, grown-up bride-to-be with a glittering Hollywood career on her CV,' Judi explained. 

'She campaigns for women’s equality and quite clearly had a far more professional approach to all the press attention and interviews than her new husband. 

Right from the very start we could see during their engagement appearances that it was Meghan controlling, leading and reassuring Harry via gestures like arm-rubs, pats and other subtle tie-signs. 

She sat to the front during their TV interview, often dominating the conversation as Harry gazed at her like a man who couldn’t quite believe his luck.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited During their engagement interview in December 2017, Meghan had the upper hand and took the lead in the conversation

ROYAL PROTOCOL KICKS IN 

'Once they were married though royal protocol kicked in, while a constant scene-stealing trait from Meghan could have alienated the public and her husband,' Judi explained. 

'Unlike his dad, Harry is a lovable royal star with his own strong fan base. He’s also served with the military so taking a more compliant role might have caused ego and status problems.'

Canny Meghan appears to have adjusted her body language accordingly to subtly avoid upstaging Harry during their joint appearances.  

'Meghan’s very smart answer to all these complex pressures seems to be to push her husband forward during royal events, allowing herself to be towed along if they’re holding hands or standing slightly behind him or even gazing up at him.'

SUBTLY MAINTAINING THE UPPER HAND

While Meghan is eager not to outshine her husband, she's still a strong woman who doesn't want to fade into the background.  

According to Judi, she does this with subtle gestures such as rubbing or patting Harry on the back. 

'She's registering her more subliminal dominance via a series of small back touches or pats that look quasi-maternal and which are reassuring, steering or controlling gestures,' she explained. 

'Harry’s "James Bond" style departure from his wedding showed he likes to see himself in the role of romantic hero. 

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Meghan, pictured with Prince Harry on a visit to Birmingham in March, uses gestures such as gentle pats on the back to reassure the royal and also allowing herself some dominance in a maternal role

'But he is also still the small boy who lost his mother at an early age and so the quasi-maternal approach from Meghan seems to compliment those needs as much as the flattering and flirty behaviors from her that boost his confidence by appealing to his alpha side.' 

Judi believes Meghan has learned the delicate balance of mothering while ego boosting from her time as an actress.  

'Her technique of stepping back and pushing Harry forward might be intrinsic to her skills and experience,' she explained. 

'Hierarchy is clearly and emphatically defined in the acting profession. 

Actors who get work will know their place in terms of not upstaging the bigger names on the bill, although they will also work to gradually raise their own profile to get to the top themselves too.