Princess Anne's body language shows 'affectionate' relationship with 'tense' Camilla

“Their touch rituals in public are telling,” the expert told Express.co.uk.

“The meeting at a racecourse shows both women wearing what look like delighted smiles and eye contact and Anne has extended one hand palm-up, which Camilla has then placed her own hand over in a sign of affection.

“The affection isn’t one-sided either, Anne’s fingers are curled up around Camilla’s thumb in a reciprocal gesture.”

The senior royals seem to show genuine delight when they do see each other at official events.

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In 2020, members of the Royal Family did not attend the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham due to social distancing restrictions.

The year before, however, Princess Anne and Camilla strongly displayed their friendship.

Judi continued: “Most royal fans were so busy watching the camera-stealing antics of George and little Charlotte on the Christmas Day outing to church that they might have missed some very telling gestures between two older members of the royal Firm.”

Both royals attended the service wearing similar bold purple outfits.

“This signal of what looked like easy-going friendship and shared fun with Camilla, who can often appear tense and rather anxious in public, did seem like a first.”

The ceremony was not the first time the royal women have stepped out in similar outfits.

However, they have managed to see the funny side of it each time, which Judi suggested shows their closeness.

She continued: “The outfit ‘clash’ has happened before with both women wearing identical colours and then mirroring one another’s body language as they stood in public together.”

The royal line of succession – who outranks who?

The line of succession to the British throne dictates the order in which each member of the Royal Family would ascend to the throne.

It is also seen as a ranking of importance with the head of the line, the Queen, taking the place of ruler.

Older children come before younger children. Traditionally boys came before girls, but this law was changed on 26 March 2015 before the birth of Prince William’s first child.

Incredibly, Catholics are still excluded from the line of succession, as are children born outside of wedlock.

The royals, who usually stick to a strict protocol when appearing in public, often arrive at events in ascending order of importance, with the most important royal arriving last.

Prince Charles, 72, is currently first-in-line to the British throne, followed by Prince William, 38, his oldest son.

Then comes Prince William’s children, George, seven, Charlotte, five, and Louis, two, and they are followed by Prince Harry, 36. Prince Harry is succeeded by his son Archie Harrison, born in May 2019.