Melania Trump “doesn’t look comfortable in her skin” and appears to “walks on egg shells” around her husband, a body language expert has claimed.

The behaviour of President Donald Trump and the First Lady has been under intense scrutiny in the days following his inaugural celebrations in Washington DC on 20 January, partly in a bid to better understand the nature of their relationship - and thereby the character of America's new leader.

The dance the couple shared at an inauguration ball which was widely described on social media described as “awkward”, and a clip where she appears to smile falsely at her husband, have attracted the most inspection. In turn, these have been compared to the apparently warm interactions between former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

By studying images of the couple, including at the inauguration and before the President’s bid for the White House, India Ford, body language trainer and founder of Talkbodylanguage, told The Independent that she believes Mrs Trump behaves towards her "narcissistic" husband “like a child looking for constant validation.”

Commenting on footage of Mrs Trump defending the then-Presidential candidate in an interview with CNN last year, after footage emerged of him saying that he could “grab” women by the “pussy”, Ford said she believed that she had been “heavily coached” prior to the TV appearance.

Mrs Trump told CNN presenter Anderson Cooper during the interview last year. “But my husband is real. He's raw. He tells it like it is. He's kind. He's a gentleman. He supports everybody. He supports women. He encourages them to go to the highest level, to achieve their dreams. He employs many, many women,”

“When she speaks, it’s quite robotic, it’s clear the answers been heavily drilled in to her. She also responds to questions in the same way as Trump, in that she does not really answer the question, but uses interviews as a chance to sell her husband’s campaign promises,“ argues Ford.

In general, Mrs Trump’s body language always appears “stilted” whenever she has appeared or spoken in public in the run-up to and following the election, most notably at the inauguration, she adds.

“She just didn’t look comfortable in her skin especially around Trump. She appeared on the inauguration day as though she was walking on egg shells around him, nervous and uncomfortable."

President Trump was criticised for walking ahead of Melania Trump when meeting the Obamas at the White House. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

“Mrs Trump appears to be constantly keeping herself in check. There is very little natural body movement and her gestures are very minimal – she very rarely looks at ease’.

But Ford adds that Mrs Trump behaves “as though she loves and adores her husband“ and it seems the reason why she is so contained is because ”her overriding objective appears to be make him as proud as possible and she doesn’t want to put a foot wrong”.

“Like a child looks for validation from a parent, she appears to be looking for validation from him,” she says referring to the footage of Mrs Trump’s smile quickly fading as her husband’s back turns.

However, Ford argues that Trump doesn’t seem as in tune with his wife's emotions, which was clear to see on the day of the inauguration, when barely any attempt was made by Trump to offer any kind of tactile support or reassurance”.

In contrast, in a 2011 interview in which Mrs Trump speaks in favour of the birther movement conspiracy, which claimed that President Barack Obama wasn’t a US citizen, she appears slightly more relaxed.