KATE MIDDLETON is the Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William. When she joined the Royal Family, a body language expert explained how she formed a close relationship with the Queen.

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William have been married since 2011. After joining the Royal Family, Kate seemed to develop a good relationship with the Queen and her other in-laws. A body language expert revealed the trick she may have used to ensure this happened.

When Kate married Prince William, she took on lots of responsibilities as a working royal.

In this role, she will work on behalf of the monarch and attend events with royals including the Queen.

Kate will do this regularly and seems very comfortable in the position.

Shortly after becoming the Duchess of Cambridge, the mother-of-three accompanied the Queen to an event.

Kate Middleton: She is a senior working member of the Royal Family (Image: GETTY)

Kate Middleton: They attended the Chelsea Flower Show last year (Image: GETTY)

During their first engagement together, Kate seemed slightly nervous, body language expert Judi James explained.

She told Express.co.uk: “Her first outings with the Queen showed some clear signals of anxiety and tension from Kate in between the smiles and moments of conversation, resulting in some rather rigid poses and tense facial expressions.

“Clearly keen to do everything right she sits and stands in a way that looks elegant but very self-conscious and the signature dimpled smile is missing.”

While Kate looked anxious to stick to royal protocol during her first outing, she has become more relaxed in recent years.

As Kate has grown more confident in her role, her relationship with the Queen has changed.

During an engagement last year, the expert explained they seemed genuinely happy to see each other.

“The Queen’s sudden broad and authentic-looking smile said it all,” Judi continued.

“It appeared from nowhere as she caught sight of Kate approaching, registering instant warmth for the future queen.

Kate Middleton: She had her first royal outing with the Queen shortly after marrying Prince William (Image: GETTY)

“Kate’s part-smile part-laugh response showed her genuine excitement at her grandmother-in-law.”

During her time as a senior royal, Kate could have won the hearts of her family by sticking to tradition and taking tips from the Queen.

There are many royal rules and protocols the Duchess has mostly followed while in the family.

Judi explained: “Kate was always a slow but steady integrator into the royal firm.

“Her slightly traditional approach, making very few if any ripples in continuity, does seem to have resonated with the Queen, who increasingly appears to treat her as a friend as well as a daughter-in-law.

Kate Middleton: She has appeared with the Queen on many occasions (Image: GETTY)

Kate Middleton: She is the wife of Prince William (Image: EXPRESS)

“Like the Queen, Kate is an adept ‘masker’, using body language techniques that appear to keep her inner feelings hidden.

“Both women have perfected a social smile and non-verbal traits that are ideal for the job they do but without encouraging any frenzied interest from the public.

“You rarely if ever see either woman look anything other than pitch-perfect so we assume their lives are, too.”

How did Kate Middleton become a royal?

Early life

Kate Middleton, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.

She was born to Michael and Carole Middleton, a former flight dispatcher and air hostess. The couple founded a party supplies company, Party Pieces, in 1987 – now estimated to be worth £30 million.

Kate has a younger sister Pippa Matthews, 34, and a younger brother James Middleton, 31.

Education

Kate and her family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where the future Duchess was educated at an English-speaking nursery school.

After moving back to Berkshire the family sent Kate to private school, St Andrews School. She went on to briefly study at Downe House before moving onto Marlborough College where she boarded.

For university the young Kate attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Here she was awarded an undergraduate MA (2:1 Hons) in history of art.

Relationship with Prince William

Kate met Prince William when they were both studying at St Andrews, and both living in St Salvator’s Hall. Famously, William reportedly took a fancy to Kate after she wore a see-through dress during a fashion show.

In 2003 the couple began dating and lived together during their second year of university.

The couple split in April 2007, however, in October they were back together.

Wedding

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother Princess Diana’s engagement ring in October 2010. The couple were holidaying in Kenya at the time.

On 29 April 2011 they married at Westminster Abbey with a whopping 26 million watching the event live.

Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress worth a reported £250,000 on the big day.

Kate assumed the title “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge” and also became the Duchess of Cambridge on the day.