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How to master the signature poses the Queen, Meghan Markle and the Duchess of Cambridge adopt

The Queen, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge all have signature, seated poses that they regularly adopt.

These poses are thought to be very purposeful: each of the positions that the Queen, Meghan and Kate tend to arrange their bodies in while seated are elegant and protect their modesty from low camera angles.

That’s according to royal etiquette expert Myka Meier, who talks Yahoo UK through the four positions that the key females in the Royal Family regularly use in video series ‘The Royal Story’.

READ MORE: The ‘duchess slant’ and more royal etiquette know-how

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), Caroline Rush (L) and  British-American journalist and editor, Anna Wintour (R), views British designer Richard Quinn's runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, during her visit to London Fashion Week's BFC Show Space in central London on February 20, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Yui Mok        (Photo credit should read YUI MOK/AFP via Getty Images)
The Queen, pictured here during London Fashion Week in February 2018, usually sits in this manner: with her legs together and her hands in her lap. [Photo: Getty]

You’ll likely recognise the Queen’s pose. The 93-year-old monarch has adopted the same seated position for decades.

She locks her knees and ankles together - “as if tied with a rubber band,” says Meier - and puts one hand over the other or clasps her typically-gloved hands in her lap. Her shoulders are pulled back and her back straight.

READ MORE: The hobby that’s earned the Queen millions

You might also be familiar with Meghan’s signature pose: the ‘Sussex Slant’ as it’s been dubbed.

The 38-year-old tends to cross one knee over the other, while seated, with her ankles locked together.

She’s a lot looser with her hands and arms than the Queen and is often clasping a clutch bag.

TOPSHOT - (L-R) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II pose for a picture during the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony on June 26, 2018 at Buckingham Palace in London. (Photo by John Stillwell / POOL / AFP)        (Photo credit should read JOHN STILLWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Meghan Markle, pictured in June 2018, is often seen seated with the legs angled to one side. [Photo: Getty]
The Duchess of Cambridge often sits with her ankles crossed, or her legs slanted to one side [Photo: Getty]
The Duchess of Cambridge often sits with her ankles crossed, or her legs slanted to one side [Photo: Getty]

‘The Cambridge Cross’ is Kate’s go-to position, says Meier. The mum-of-three locks her knees and ankles together and crosses one ankle over the other.

Both Meghan and Kate also work ‘The Duchess Slant’, says Meier.

Sat on the edge of their seat, with their legs at an angle and forming a zig-zag shape, this stance ensures no unwanted images are taken from cameras positioned at low angles.