Who says Meghan Markle hasn’t had an effect on Princess Catherine?!

No matter what Kate Middleton may like to admit — publicly or privately — one insider who knows both women quite well is sounding the alarm that the Suits alum has rubbed off very specifically on her estranged sister-in-law! Yes, really!

In a brand new interview with Us Weekly published on Sunday, longtime royal photographer Karwai Tang spoke about how the habits Prince Harry‘s wife has shown in interacting with her husband have come to influence how Prince William‘s wife has interacted with hers!

See, Tang began by noting how Kate has recently gotten pretty physical with William in public — you know, showing off unexpected PDA, getting all touchy-feely, all that stuff! Basically being unable to keep her hands off her man! The London-based photographer explained:

“She’s very handsy, very touchy … touchy feely with Harry.”

Awww!

But here’s why that really matters — and why we say Meghan has been rubbing off on Kate!

Tang is saying it, quite explicitly, he saw this evolution in Catherine’s behavior develop because of Meghan! He explained how the former actress’ presence in the royal family for “those few years” (shade duly noted, Karwai, LOLz) has now come to impact how Kate approaches and interacts with the king-to-be in public:

“I think with Harry and Meghan being in the royal family for those few years, it’s sort of relaxed a lot of the other members. Because every now and again you see Kate and William, not hold hands, but like a hand on the back or on the knee.”

Inneresting!!

And if there’s anybody who is qualified to speak on how Kate and William interact, it’s a royal photographer. Ya know — a person whose entire job is predicated upon focusing a camera lens on the powerful couple!

Tang did have a nice capper to round out his thoughts about Kate’s increasingly constant physical closeness to Wills, too. Noting that the royal couple is “very demonstrative,” Karwai explained:

“I always enjoy photographing them. They photograph really well, genuine. I’ve photographed them from the start, so it’s actually nice just to photograph them along their journey.”

That’s sweet! But TBH, we also wonder how the 43-year-old queen-in-waiting’s cancer battle has played here, too. After all, going through something like that has no doubt forced her (and William) to re-focus on the things that really matter in life. So, perhaps it’s no wonder that they are more constantly in close physical contact than they were before, ya know?

Still, it’s fascinating to hear how Tang credits the change to the Meghan Markle effect. Didn’t see that one coming!!!