The duchess slant and fashion tips aren’t the only things Meghan Markle is borrowing from Kate Middleton in her new life as a royal.
The 37-year-old Duchess of Sussex recently stepped out for a royal engagement at the Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, England, and took a page right out of K-Middy’s parenting playbook.
Markle met a bevy of toddlers outside the historic theater and, like the 37-year-old Duchess of Cambridge, she bent down to greet them.
Kneeling or bending down to speak with children is a technique Middleton and her husband, Prince William, have used time and time again during both public engagements and while parenting Prince George (5), Princess Charlotte (3) and (eventually) Prince Louis (9 months).
And bending the knee isn’t just for show. The effort of coming down to a child’s level allows them to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts on an equal playing field. By physically being on the same level as a child, an adult isn’t asserting dominance or being unintentionally intimidating. This fosters open communication between child and adult and also allows for easier eye contact.
When meeting tiny strangers who dream of being prince or princesses, kneeling seems like the way to go. And when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcome their first child into the royal fold this April, chances are they’ll utilize the same technique…once baby Sussex is up and walking at least.
You know what they say: Practice makes perfect and Markle is definitely getting in her practice during these royal engagements.