New snaps showing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are "pure power and status", a body language expert has said.
The two new portraits were taken of the pair shortly before the opening ceremony of the One Young World Summit, which they attended in Manchester last month, where Meghan gave a speech. They were taken by friend and photographer Misan Harriman - and one of the photos shows Harry and Meghan looking directly at the camera as they interlock fingers with each other. Another black and white image, taken from a side angle, shows the Sussexes looking straight ahead as they hold hands.
The pictures come just days after an official portrait featuring King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and the new Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, was released.
And according to body language expert Judi James, Harry and Meghan appear closely bonded and intimate.
She told the Mirror: "No more lying on the ground under tall trees in flowing dresses and bare feet, gazing up at the clouds for this couple, these new official portraits are pure power and status, with a very upright Meghan closest to the camera and Harry clinging to her index finger and grinning like a proud and supportive fan.
"When they stand side by side they ignore the camera, unlike our royals who were photographed staring straight down the lens.
"For Meghan and Harry, it’s more for us to admire a duo whose gaze seems fixed on a distant horizon, with a smile of what looks like optimism and calm from Meghan and a slightly more surly look from Harry.
"These look like poses for a business magazine and they seem set to approach their global future together, hence the handclasp that involves entwined fingers to register intimacy and close bonding."
In comparison, the photo released on Saturday showing the new King Charles and his family was taken at Buckingham Palace last month on the eve of the Queen's funeral.
Meghan and Harry do not feature in it, and according to Judi, Charles is "forming up under potential attack" in the snap due to his "unusual" gesture to Camilla.
The new King, who usually avoids any public displays of affection, can be seen placing his arm around Camilla's back.
It comes amid rumours and reports that Harry, who sensationally quit as a working royal with Meghan in 2020, could be in line to criticise his father Charles and his stepmother Camilla in his upcoming memoir.
And Judi said: "As any tribe or dynasty knows, a show of unity, continuity and strength is vital once it loses a leader.
"The royals are making exactly the right 'survival' statement here, following the death of the Queen.
"This looks like a forming up under potential attack, particularly from the direction of the US, and Charles' unusual PDA of placing an arm around Camilla's back, mirroring her arm round his, could be seen as a message in the same direction, as there have been rumours that Harry could have been critical of Camilla in his new book."
