Body language expert Blanca Cobb analyzes Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton’s go-to “Duchess pose”—featuring clasped hands and bent elbows.

The pose offers “comfort and certainty” in the spotlight.

Meghan Markle went from being an actress on Suits to being a casual Duchess, a career change that’s pretty enviable. You know, minus the fact that she’s constantly harassed by trolls (more on that mess here) and is the subject of imaginary feuds with her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. But for the most part, being a member of the royal family allows Meghan to devote her time to meaningful causes and charities close to her heart. Which naturally means she spends a lot of time in the spotlight and has cameras on her all freakin’ day.

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Almost every celebrity has a go-to pose for when they hit the red carpet, and Meghan is no different now that she’s a Duchess. During most appearances, you can find her with hands clasped across her ribs, and elbows out. It’s poised, it’s sophisticated, and according to body-language expert Blanca Cobb, it’s purposeful.



“What happens when you stand a lot? You have a go-to move, something that makes you feel comfortable, and it becomes a habit,” Blanca tells us. “It becomes part of you, and you don’t think about it anymore—particularly for someone who’s in the spotlight. For Meghan, having that go-to move serves a couple of purposes. It’s almost like an invisible shield—like a barrier to protect herself. Her hands are clasped to give herself some more comfort and certainty when she’s in the spotlight.”

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Interestingly, Kate Middleton has a similar go-to pose (her hands are usually a little lower), and Blanca says it’s certainly possible that Meghan worked with a body-language expert to achieve this Duchess-ready silhouette: “If you look at it, it’s a polished look,” Blanca explains. “Her hands aren’t flapping in the wind, she’s holding her hands together. A lot of people will use a body language coach to help them send off an image because they want to be perceived in a certain way.”

Back in May 2018, it was reported that Meghan would embark on a whopping six months of “Duchess lessons” with the help of The Queen’s senior aide Samantha Cohen. “It will be six months of listening,” a source said at the time. “She is seeking out advice from a range of people. She is going to proceed with humility. It’s is not going to be quiet, though. It is going to be a very busy office. She has worked every day of her life. She is used to a demanding schedule.”



Clearly Meghan nailed it. *skips away to practice my Duchess pose in the mirror*

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Mehera Bonner Mehera Bonner is a news writer who focuses on celebrities and royals— follow her on Instagram.

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