The Princess of Wales established a ‘fun and relaxed’ relationship with America’s First Lady after Queen Camilla appeared to ‘pull rank’ over her during an awkward moment with Melania Trump, a body language expert has claimed.

Kate, 43, enjoyed a jam-packed, busy schedule with Melania , 55, throughout her state visit to the UK this week alongside her husband, US President Donald Trump.

During that time, the pair, along with other senior royals, dressed in all their finery to attend a glittering State banquet before enjoying a more casual, one-on-one engagement together yesterday, meeting a young Scouts’ group.

It was then that the pair were seen engaged in ‘active, enthusiastic and animated conversation’, said UK body language expert Judi James, with Kate triggering a ‘more relaxed, relatable and playful side’ of Melania.

According to James, the clip showed Kate to be ‘in awe’ of Melania, who revealed her intentions to create a more ‘fun and relaxed’ relationship with the future queen by her choice of attire.

Talking exclusively to the Daily Mail, James said, ‘Kate’s behaviour here (the constant talking) suggests she might be rather in awe of Melania as she adopts an almost teenage, breathless style of delivery, suggesting some excitement at having the First Lady to herself for the first time.

‘She gestures non-stop as she speaks, using both illustrative and emphatic gestures to tell her story in what looks like an attempt to make it more interesting and entertaining, in contrast to the rather more formal and traditional overtures made to Melania up until this point on her visit to Windsor.’

Discussing Melania’s decision to ditch her usual heels in favour of flats, James continued, ‘Melania had shown her rather static style of beauty and elegance at the State banquet, and Kate had matched her in terms of more regal bearing.

‘But we’d also seen Kate looking excited and keen to engage the First Lady in a more animated chat when they first arrived at Windsor and here, with them both dressed more casually, including Melania’s flats, she seems to have decided to establish a more fun and relaxed friendship with her.’ 

James concluded, ‘The two women share a passion for children’s causes and that, as well as Kate’s sweetly effortful attempts at friendship, seems to have revealed a much more thawed and relaxed version of Melania, whose intense face-watching of Kate as she chats and whose corresponding laughter and smiles of appreciation creates the appearance of genuine liking.’ 

It comes after James claimed that Queen Camilla ‘pulled rank’ over the Princess of Wales on Wednesday during an awkward moment from Melania and Donald Trump‘s state visit.

When King Charles‘s wife welcomed the First Lady to Windsor Castle for her official state visit, she found herself in a rather uncomfortable social situation after Melania appeared to break off conversation with her to focus on Kate, 43.

In Windsor Estate’s private Walled Garden, Camilla, 78, and Melania, 55, engaged in light conversation as Charles and the US President stood close by. However, moments later, Kate approached the duo, awkwardly distracting the First Lady from the Queen.

When Melania spotted the royal mother-of-three, she quickly turned in Kate’s direction to greet her, apparently calling time on her chat with Camilla.

An animated discussion between Melania and Kate followed, with Camilla left looking blankly on as if ‘left out’ from the chat.

Footage revealed just how Camilla dealt with the uncomfortable situation, with body language expert Judi James claiming the Queen is seen ‘pulling rank’ and ‘appearing to shoo Kate away’.

In the clip, the King’s wife wafts her hand to usher Kate to move towards Prince William, 43, before resuming her own conversation with Melania.

Ever the polite royal, Kate appeared to dutifully follow Camilla’s lead, moving away from the discussion and back to her husband’s side.

Talking to The Daily Mail, James explained: ‘On the surface this was just Camilla warning Kate that her carriage was arriving, but the body language undertones look much less congenial.

‘Camilla had been chatting to Melania when Kate shot into view, clearly synchronised with William who had simultaneously moved to talk to his father and Trump.

‘Kate’s energy and her enthusiastic gesticulation seemed to tune with Melania, who turned her head away from Camilla to talk, using some subtly mirrored responses as she did so.

‘As the Princess and the First Lady appeared to be in tune here, Camilla turned her head as though feeling slightly left out.

‘When she turned back to warn Kate, she seemed to break up a good conversation, and the problem came with her quick flapping of her hand that appeared to shoo Kate away.

‘A small smile, nudge and point might have been more acceptable as a gesture to the woman who will be queen, but the lack of a smile and the hard flapping looked rather authoritative here.’

Richard Fitzwilliams, meanwhile, suggested that the perhaps ‘perfectly innocent’ gesture appeared ‘dismissive’. 

He told The Daily Mail: ‘It certainly looks as though Catherine is moving away because of The Queen’s gesture.

‘We always see royals being impeccably polite to each other in public so there there may well be a perfectly innocent interpretation of a gesture that, at a distance, appears dismissive. It is unlikely ever to be explained but, as all such incidents are these days, it is being watched by vast numbers online. 

‘Nothing, however, can alter the fact that the royal family showed that it is the ultimate soft power weapon of the British government with an unrivalled day of ceremonial brilliance.’

Mr Fitzwilliams also noted that the carriage pulling up to the royals was likely a horse-drawn one, which could have some bearing on the queen’s gesture, saying: ‘Sometimes when images are seen at a distance it is easy to misinterpret them especially when horses are involved. It seems likely that Queen Camilla was moving Catherine out of the way of a horse-drawn carriage.’ 

A Trump spokesperson this week said the couple was ‘thrilled’ that Kate would be ‘front and centre’ during the UK trip, saying: ‘The inclusion of Princess Kate in so many events during the state visit is an honour.’

Earlier in the day, Prince William and Kate had previously escorted the President and First Lady to Victoria House where the King and Queen were waiting for their guests from across the Pond.

Camilla, who was forced to sit the Duchess of Kent’s funeral out due to ill health, wore a vibrant sapphire blue dress with a matching coat by Fiona Clare and hat by Philip Treacy, as well as a sapphire and diamond brooch.

Meanwhile, Kate opted for a Emilia Wickstead dress, paired with a Jane Taylor dress and a studded diamond and emerald feather brooch, that had once belonged to Princess Diana.

And the First Lady looked effortlessly chic in a Christian Dior Haute Couture dark grey skirt suit that flared out at the waist and fell just below her knees.

She wore her blonde tresses in a slick bun that was largely hidden by a wide-brimmed wool hat in a brighter purple hue.

Melania was expertly poised in her heels as she walked alongside Donald, Prince William and Kate in the Walled Garden on the Windsor estate.

Later in the evening, the group reconvened to attend a glittering state banquet alongside other senior royals, including Princess Anne.

Kate looked dazzling, sporting a Phillipa Lepley silk crepe gown underneath a hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat.

She also donned the late Queen Elizabeth II’s and the King’s Royal Family Order and a blue sash, representing that she is a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

On Thursday afternoon, Kate and Melania met again as they joined a group of Scouts Squirrels, the youngest part of the UK Scouting organisation, which is designed for four to five year olds who work towards their ‘Go Wild’ badge, in Frogmore Gardens.

On their arrival, the Princess, who has been joint president of the Scouts with the Duke of Kent since 2020, and the First Lady were met by Dwayne Fields, the Chief Scout.

Dwayne escorted his guests to meet two groups of Squirrels who were taking part in a variety of activities as they learned about nature.

Kate and Melania enjoyed the opportunity to join the children as they built a bug hotel and tried leaf printing using fallen leaves collected from the gardens.

The Princess and the First Lady then led a badge presentation for the young Squirrels, before hosting a picnic for The Squirrels in the gardens.

Kate had thoughtfully organised a special packed lunch for the children, with each of the children receiving sandwiches containing honey made by The Princess of Wales herself from the Wales family’s hives at Anmer Hall.

In addition, the First Lady gifted a jar of White House honey to each of the children as a memento of their very special day.

The wellbeing of young children is something which is important to both The Princess and The First Lady, a spokesman explained.

The Princess has long been passionate about the power of enabling children and young people to experience the natural world.

The Scouts meet is part of a comprehensive schedule of events detailed by Buckingham Palace for the state visit, which started on Tuesday and runs until the end of today.