Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, acted “like a small child” while filming for her and Prince Harry’s upcoming Netflix project, a body language expert has suggested.

The royal met the family of top polo player Nacho Figueras – who is also one of Harry’s closest friends – for a shoot with the top streamer last week as the couple filmed scenes for the Prince’s upcoming series about the upper class sport.

She was spotted embracing the sportsman as she appeared alongside him, his wife Delfina Blaquier, and their eight-year-old daughter, Alba, in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Duke and Duchess have long known the couple, to the extent that Ms Figueras called the Californian princess a “sister”. A royal commentator said their closeness was evident in their body language and that the Duchess appeared “like a small child” during their meeting.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James commented on the moment the Duchess embraced a woman appearing to be Mr Figueras’ wife.

She said she approached the woman with her “arms held out straight” as she went in for the hug.

Ms James said: “Meghan approached Nacho’s wife with both arms held out straight for a hug.

“This gesture is intensely affectionate because, as an intentional or an announcement gesture it mimes a small child wanting to be picked up by its parent for a cuddle.”

The two women were later seen walking with their arms wrapped around one another, with their heads close together.

The head closeness, Ms James said, was a “sign of trust” and “a symbol of unity and like-minded thinking”.

The expert added: “Their arms are twined around each other’s torsos and they are totally in step despite the height differential. They look as though they have been best friends for years.”

The meeting was captured reportedly during filming for Prince Harry’s polo series, which is one of two nonfiction series commissioned by Netflix.

The series will provide “unprecedented access to the world of professional polo”, with filming expected to cover the US Open Polo Championship from Florida.

The second series, fronted by the Duchess of Sussex, will cover “the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining and friendship”.