Could the Duchess of Cambridge be eclipsed by Meghan?

Meghan Markle has completed her first major tour as a member of the Royal Family, notching up 76 engagements during her and Harry’s 16-day visit to Australia.

And it seems the Duchess of Sussex passed with flying colours, after impressing with her public interactions and confident speeches.

Meghan is expecting her first child in Autumn 2019, but royal watchers don’t think she’ll waste any time getting back to work after the baby is born.

On the other hand, the Duchess of Cambridge, has had a much quieter few weeks having returned from maternity leave in October — five months after giving birth to her third child, Prince Louis.

Since then, we’ve seen Kate back on royal duties. She accompanied the Queen on the balcony at the Remembrance Day service, alongside the next King’s consort, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at the weekend.

But it is Meghan who has hogged the limelight for months — and this shows no sign of waning in the near future.

So does this mean naturally shy Kate in danger of being overshadowed by her sister-in-law?

With her background as an actress, LA-born Meghan brings with her a showbiz glamour and public profile that has evidently helped her in her role as a royal.

PR expert Dean Piper tells Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box,’ that Meghan hasn’t put a foot wrong so far.

“She’s almost too good,” Dean adds.

The Duchess of Sussex gave three confident speeches during the tour Down Under and launched her first solo project just months after her wedding in May.

Royal editor Camilla Tominey thinks the palace needs to improve Kate’s confidence in public speaking.

“I’ve got huge respect for the Duchess of Cambridge but she needs to speak up and this has been an issue, because she’s afraid of public speaking, it doesn’t come naturally to her,” she says.

“It’s really important for her as a future Queen, we need her to be on a world stage.

“She has the potential for so much, she’s a bright girl, she’s engaging, she’s got something to say.

“I wouldn’t like to see her eclipsed on that level by Meghan because I think she has a great deal to offer on her own terms.”

Tominey tells Yahoo UK that Kate does a lot of work behind the scenes, researching the causes she’s committed to and making the phone calls herself.

The mental health campaign, Heads Together, came from her because she had noticed that it always a common thread through her work with child bereavement, addiction and some of the military charities.

“That actually came from her, it was her idea, which she isn’t given that much credit for,” she says.

“She’s [Kate] a very steadying influence. She’s got every reason to be a show off, she’s one of the most powerful people in the British monarchy, she’s the mother of a future king.”

Catch up on all the episodes of Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box’ video series here now.

Got a story tip? Send it to tips@oath.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.