The Princess of Wales’ body language at the Remembrance Sunday Service was perhaps the first indicator that Kate is once more on ‘regal’ form, a body language expert has claimed.
Judi James told MailOnline that the royal, who has this weekend undertaken her biggest public commitments since revealing she had cancer earlier this year, appeared ‘sombre yet stoic’ in her expressions at the annual memorial event to those lost to war.
She explained: ‘Kate’s body language and even her styling today showed a return to what looked like full regal form.
The Princess of Wales cut a sombre figure as took her place on the balcony above the Cenotaph on Sunday – but body language expert Judi James said Kate, 42, returning slowly to public life as she recovers from cancer, also appeared ‘fiercely regal’
The Princess of Wales appeared to fight back tears in an emotional moment as she undertook her second public engagement in two days; body language expert Judi James said there was a familiar stoic reflection in Kate’s demeanour that was a re-run of one of her most iconic ‘regal’ moments
‘Then she appeared tearful, but here her sadness registered with a fiercely regal look of stoic reflection.’
James added that Prince William’s wife attire, a military style jacket with epaulettes and a velour bow and dramatic headwear, also suggested that the Princess of Wales was back in the ‘regal’ mode that her biggest fans have always enjoyed.
Deep in thought: The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh look straight ahead as the clock struck 11am on Sunday – with James saying Kate looked ‘so much like a future queen’
Wearing a military style black structured coat with epaulettes and fascinator, Kate’s look screamed of ‘future Queen’, said James
She said: ‘Even her fascinator and the way she wore her hair swept up looked like a re-run of one of her most iconic “regal” moments when she was photographed in the car, in her Covid face mask, at Philip’s funeral, looking fiercely elegant and regal and so much like a future queen.’
The royal, 42, stood next to Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh on the balcony as King Charles led the wreath-laying alongside the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister.
James said while Kate appeared solemn, she was also in a central position on the balcony – putting herself in full public view.
‘She was seen chatting and smiling gently with Sophie on the balcony and, with Camilla not attending, she appeared to move into central position with Sophie standing to her side, with relaxed-looking confidence.’
James also revealed the role the Duchess of Edinburgh played in today’s proceedings.
Side-by-side: With Prince William joining the King to lay wreaths, Kate Middleton took her place on the balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with the Duchess of Edinburgh – who, says body language expert Judi James, took on a maternal role today
She said Sophie, 59, who is married to Prince Edward, offered a ‘very telling-looking gesture’ – a supportive hand on Kate’s back – that signified exactly why she was chosen to be by the younger royal’s side at the Cenotaph this morning.
The Princess of Wales, in the absence of Queen Camilla, who is recovering from a chest infection and watched the service on TV at home, was joined by Sophie on the balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office just before 11am – as the two minutes’ silence was broadcast live to the nation, with around 10,000 military veterans attending the service.
Expert James said: ‘That simple hand gesture showed Sophie’s dual role today.
‘She is always the royal who brings a sense of calm and support to some of the most emotionally-charged royal occasions.
And a lip reader detailed a conversation shared between the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh at the Cenotaph this morning that suggests Kate may have been feeling nervous about one of her first appearances at a public event since her cancer diagnosis.
And, according to lip reader Jacqui Press, Kate appeared to look to Sophie, 59, for moral support and reassuring words during the Remembrance Sunday service this morning.
Calming: expert Jacqui suggested that the Duchess of Edinburgh may have been able to put the Princess of Wales at ease with her reassuring words
Emotional: While the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh (not pictured) looked on from above, King Charles, the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal joined veterans and dignitaries below at the Cenotaph
Focusing on the moment where the camera panned onto Kate and Sophie standing together on the balcony, Press perceived that Kate was looking to Prince William’s aunt for reassurance.
Sophie, 59, appeared aware that Kate was experiencing some nervousness and tried to offer an encouraging word.
Gesturing, she said, ‘you know… it’s…’, which, in turn, enabled Kate to express how she was feeling.
Press suggested that Kate then opened up to Sophie, saying, ‘Yes… because it’s so special.’
Sophie, 59, offered a reassuring touch of the hand on Kate’s back as the two women left the balcony following the two minutes’ silence. Body language expert James says the Duchess of Edinburgh echoed the supportive touches also shown by Prince William on Saturday evening at the Royal Albert Hall
ndicating that she was feeling nervous, the Princess then added: ‘You’re never quite ready for this…’.
Sophie appeared to agree with Kate’s indication that she felt overwhelmed and replied: ‘Yes, absolutely’.
The Duchess continued to reassure Kate, purportedly saying, ‘better now’.
By helping support the Princess of Wales in various ways this morning, Sophie once again showed why she is one of the most trusted members of the current royal family.
‘She and Kate always appear to be close and to share a sense of humour but Sophie’s gesture here seems to show her in a more maternal mode, as she places on hand on or near Kate’s back as she stepped inside the building.’
James added the heartfelt moment between Kate and Sophie mimicked the supportive touches by Prince William towards his wife during the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening.
‘The gesture looked similar to the back touches William had been performing the night before. It registered fondness and maybe a small congratulatory “well done” for another milestone achieved in terms of Kate’s return to royal duties.
‘But it also looked like a small but powerful signal to William and even George and Charlotte that, even when William is not at Kate’s side, she is still surrounded by royal family that are taking very good care of her, albeit subtly.’
The Princess of Wales appeared to appreciate the support of the Duchess of Edinburgh at the Cenotaph this morning, when the two women stood side-by-side as King Charles led the wreath-laying alongside the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
James also said that the Princess of Wales appears to be increasingly comfortable back in the spotlight.
Solemnity: The Prince of Wales salutes during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London
King Charles appeared emotional as he looked towards the Cenotaph in remembrance; the royal was attending the service without Queen Camilla, who has a chest infection
What the royals watched: Military veterans gathered on Whitehall in central London for the Cenotaph service
Second World War vets Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh were among those on Horse Guards Parade ahead of the Royal British Legion march past the Cenotaph today
The well-liked Duchess of Edinburgh has become an increasingly significant member of the royals in recent years, taking on bigger roles at public events and representing the Windsors when others haven’t been able to make commitments.
For Kate, much has changed in the year since she last attended the Remembrance Service, with the royal revealing to the nation earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
‘Stoic reflection’: Kate pays her respects during the two minutes silence, the 42-year-old royal, in her first major public appearance since revealing she has cancer, wore a stylish black structured coat with bow and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth
Today, the Princess cut a stylish figure as she arrived at the Cenotaph this morning, wearing a structured black coat and three-flowered fascinator as she joined her fellow royals
The royal who continued her favoured tradition of wearing a military style coat for the service also donned a significant piece of royal jewellery.
The mother-of-three picked the Bahrain Pearl Diamond Drop Earrings, from the late Queen Elizabeth’s private collection, which were also worn by the late Princess Diana in 1982.
The Princess of Wales pictured as she headed for the Cenotaph this morning
The Princess of Wales, 42, smiled as she joined the Duchess of Edinburgh on the balcony
The earrings were crafted from pearls gifted to the Queen and Philip from the ruler of Bahrain at the time of their wedding in 1947.
The monarch famously wore the jewels in her first Royal Command portrait by Dorothy Wilding in July 1952.
Kate first wore them in 2016 for the Remembrance Day service at Westminster Abbey, and also wore them to attend Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021.
Kate wore her brunette locks neatly tied up into a chic black fascinator with feathered detail and a netted veil.
Prince William this week described the year as the ‘hardest’ of his life, whilst remarking how proud he was of his father and wife for their bravery and dignity amid their health woes.
On Saturday, prior to entering the Royal Albert Hall, the Princess of Wales lovingly and gently rubbed William’s lower back.
Several times throughout the ceremony, the Royal couple could be seen glancing and whispering in each others direction giving us a glimpse of the ‘mutual affection’ they share.
Following the emotional tributes to British personnel, Judi James reveals exactly what the Wales’s body language says about their relationship, and how the Princess Royal showed ‘maternal concern’ for a ‘frail’ King Charles.
The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured on Saturday night honouring Britain’s servicemen and women at the Royal Albert Hall
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