The strategic way Meghan Markle avoided the spotlight at Prince Louis's christening

All eyes were on Kate Middleton and Prince Louis at the royal christening on Monday — and that’s just how Meghan Markle wanted it.

Although she tends to steal the spotlight during royal appearances, the Duchess of Sussex took several measures, including carefully choosing her outfit, to ensure she wasn’t the centre of attention at her nephew’s baptism.

According to body language expert Judi James, Markle deliberately toned down her behaviour to avoid drawing any attention away from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

“Meghan showed off a new and very appropriate and useful body language skill at the christening,” James told the Daily Mail. “That of artfully melting into the background at will to allow other royals to step into the spotlight, despite still being the woman the world’s cameras will be trained on.”

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While there is still intense public interest in the newlywed Markle and Prince Harry, the couple kept a low profile behind Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children as they arrived at the Royal Chapel at St. James’s Palace.

A beaming Duchess of Cambridge proudly held the sleeping two-month-old as he made his first public appearance since he was born.

As with her other two children, Middleton opted for a white dress by Alexander McQueen for the occasion and a ivory floral headpiece by Jane Taylor.

In contrast, Markle wore an olive ensemble by Ralph Lauren and a custom hat by Stephen Jones. While Markle typically wears pale colours like blush, the muted olive shade wasn’t in direct competition with the Duchess of Cambridge’s look.

James also notes that Markle and Harry avoided engaging in their normal public displays of affection, and maintained a calm, more serious expression.

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“Harry clamped his jacket with one hand and looked serious but both seemed to be at great pains to wait behind the real stars of the day,” she explained.

Following the 40-minute ceremony, members of the royal family, as well as the Middleton’s family and Prince Louis’s six godparents, attended a private afternoon tea at Clarence House.

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