First Lady Melania Trump's 'soft power' dominance was on full display during this week's glitzy state visit with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, according to an expert in the art of body language. 

She seemingly used small gestures and outfits to steer several notable moments with the royals during a four-day swing.

However, the first notable moment wasn't actually with the King and Queen – rather it was how the First Lady interacted with her husband, President Donald Trump.

Body language expert Judi James observed how Melania's hand-holding revealed a 'rather touching and sweet dynamic,' showing just how much he needs her. 

As the Trumps entered the White House Cross Hall to head to the state dinner on Tuesday, James observed the President having a 'very firm and needy-looking grip on his wife's gloved hand.' 

James noticed the way his fingers curled around hers, and said it showed a 'subtle dependency.' She also said the President showed unwillingness to let go when Melania tried to pull her hand out of his grasp.

'Trump's almost childlike reluctance to drop her hand left him clutching at her thumb right up to the point where they parted,' she observed. 

This, the expert said, was the clearest sign of Melania's increasing power over Trump. But it wasn't the only instance. 

When the King and Queen first arrived at the White House on Monday, Melania's mannerisms 'very firmly and emphatically announced her warmth and affection for the Royals,' James said. 

The First Lady deployed 'some elegant but powerful cheek-kissing,' which James said showed she was defining the 'special relationship' between the United Kingdom and the United States as 'non-negotiable.' 

Melania also performed what's called an 'upgrade' ritual with King Charles. 

'As he proffered a hand to shake, she upgraded their shake into a matching, affectionate kiss on both cheeks,' James told the Daily Mail. 

Melania continued to dazzle the King when, after Monday afternoon tea, she and the President led him and the Queen to the White House Kitchen Garden to see the upgraded beehive.

'Melania clearly shares a passion for beekeeping with Charles,' James said, 'and she took control of the important moment of first socializing as a result.'

The body language expert noticed how Melania 'charmed the King with some very active and joyful, non-verbal responses that saw him immediately relax and begin to showboat under her flattery.' 

James said she also performed 'stroke' rituals - giggling, laughing, smiling - to put the King at ease.

During Tuesday's more official arrival ceremony, James said the First Lady seemed to be on flocking duty. 

The President is known to sometimes step out of line or go against royal protocol. 

James noticed that 'Melania had shouldered this very important job of leadership and strategic thinking.'

'Royal visits always require strenuous steering and ushering rituals to ensure the choreography works, with no dithering or arriving in the wrong place,' the expert said. 

James observed that during the formal greeting ceremony, it was Melania's left hand that motioned her guests through the staged directions. 

She also pointed out the ways in which Melania seemed to speak through her clothes. 

The buttercream suit she wore on Monday was meant to convey 'hope, creativity and optimism' through its yellow tones, 'sealing the concept of a positive restart' between the two countries, James said. 

The President has hammered British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his reluctance to help the US in the Iran war, so King Charles' visit was to help bolster the relationship. 

Melania's opening day outfit was both soft and serious, as it included the 'sharp shoulder pads' that have become a signature look of hers during the second term. 

On Tuesday morning, the First Lady once again made a statement. 

James noted how Melania's hat 'created an air of tradition and formality' but 'by putting her face into shadow' it allowed the First Lady to shoot the President 'reminder' glances when he went off-script. 

By matching colors with Queen Camilla, James also observed, Melania 'very carefully avoided upstaging her as they sat together.'  

And then there was the dress that Melania wore to the state dinner – a pale delphinium pink silk strapless gown by Christian Dior Haute Couture. 

She wore matching Dior pale delphinium silk pumps and off-white Dior suede gloves. 

James called the dress 'iconic' and swatted away comparisons made to a pink gown and white gloves worn by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, saying that the First Lady's dress had an 'unforgiving structure... that only Melania could carry off.' 

'The signal of utter confidence,' James said, 'came from the way Melania still wore the dramatically structured gown rather than the gown wearing her.'