Prince William took on a ‘protector’ role while ‘vulnerable’ Kate Middleton appeared ‘rather sad and reflective’ during their visit in London yesterday, a body language expert has claimed.
The Duke, 38, and Duchess of Cambridge, 39, met with paramedics and ambulance staff at Newham Ambulance Station yesterday, as reports emerged Prince William is supporting wife Kate after Meghan Markle, 39, claimed the two women had a tearful confrontation days before the royal wedding.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Judi James explained the Duke showed an ‘uppermost sense of desire to protect’ the mother-of-three, who ‘prominently displayed’ Diana’s engagement ring during their outing yesterday.
She revealed: ‘Kate’s facial expression in the car looked reflective and rather sad and although her upright posture and the eye-connection signals signal it is business as usual for the Cambridges, her very pronounced barrier gesture, using the small clutch bag to clasp her hands in front of her torso in a self-protective gesture, could hint at some building vulnerability.’
Prince William, 38, took on a ‘protector’ role while ‘vulnerable’ Kate Middleton, 39, appeared ‘rather sad and reflective’ during their visit in London yesterday, a body language expert has claimed
Judi explained: ‘It looked hugely telling that during their last appearance, in the wake of all the claims made during the Oprah interview in the US, William should immediately move towards his wife Kate straight after telling the reporter that he had not yet spoken to his brother Harry.
‘He used an extended arm ‘steering’ gesture to suggest a deep desire to protect her despite the fact that she was walking at a safe distance from the press.
‘That sense of a desire to protect looks uppermost here too in their most recent outing.’
Judi revealed Kate appeared ‘reflective’ while travelling to the engagement, before displaying ‘self-protective gestures’ throughout the visit.
Judi James claimed the Duchess of Cambridge’s facial expression in the car on the way to the engagement ‘looked reflective and rather sad’
She explained: ‘Kate’s hand clasp seems to be creating another signal that could be subliminal or deliberate.
‘With her left hand on top of the right Diana’s engagement ring, which is now her own engagement ring, is displayed prominently.
‘This gesture could link with the emotional Mothers Day tributes to Diana and to the way that connections to Diana have been evoked by both Harry and William recently.’
Meanwhile Judi explained Prince William adopted a protective role during the visit, adding: ‘William’s body language does suggest a sense of a desire to protect his wife here.
Meanwhile the body language expert said Kate created a ‘barrier’ with her hand clasp, which highlighted Princess Diana’s engagement ring, which is now her own
‘As Kate stands looking slightly isolated, William has taken the role of umbrella-carrier to ensure she stays dry.
‘He seems to be using more face-checking rituals with Kate recently, gazing at her with what looked like an expression of affection and pride during their last outing.
‘He has also been turning to look at her more when he refers to ‘we’ during their video calls, which could signal a desire to keep checking she is okay.’
The visit yesterday came amidst reports Prince William is ‘very protective’ of the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, following Meghan, 39, and Prince Harry’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey last week.
Judi pointed to Prince William’s gestures and face-checking rituals with Kate and said the Duke looked at his wife with ‘admiration and pride’
During the couple’s tell-all, Meghan addressed reports she made her sister-in-law cry over a disagreement regarding bridesmaid dresses ahead of the royal wedding.
‘The reverse happened’, the duchess told her friend Oprah, claiming she was the one who teared up.
‘For Meghan to name Kate in a negative light is worse [for Prince William] than being attacked himself,’ royal biographer Penny Junor told People. She added: ‘William is very protective of Kate and can get very angry.’
The Duchess of Sussex said she was not sharing the information to be ‘disparaging’, but added it was ‘really important for people to understand the truth’.
During the couple’s tell-all (pictured), Meghan addressed reports that she made her sister-in-law cry over a disagreement regarding bridesmaid dresses ahead of the royal wedding
‘It was a really hard week of the wedding, and she was upset about something,’ Meghan said. ‘But she owned it, and she apologised and she brought me flowers and a note apologising.’
It comes as Kate is said have found it ‘mortifying’ that the allegations have re-emerged two years ago after first being reported in 2018, according to royal expert Katie Nicholl.
Ms Nicholl noted how you ‘never hear’ about the Duchess of Cambridge falling out with anyone because she is ‘very careful with how she treats others.’
Speaking to OK! magazine, Ms Nicholl explained: ‘Kate has never wanted any suggestion of a rift with Meghan to come out in the press, so for this story to be circulating is very hard.’
The Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte and other bridesmaids arriving at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan in May 2018
Katie added there are ‘different versions’ of the story and claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle know the mother-of-three is ‘not in a position to respond’.
‘From what I hear, there are different versions of the bridesmaid story, not just the one Meghan discussed,’ the royal expert told the publication.
‘Kate felt it was all sorted, so to have it brought up again was mortifying. Kate is not in a position to respond and Meghan and Harry know that.’
The royal expert went on to claim that Kate has been left ‘saddened, disappointed and hurt’ in the wake of Meghan and Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah .
The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex in the Royal Box on Centre Court at Wimbledon in July 2019
Meghan claimed in her interview with Oprah that she experienced more negativity towards her than the Duchess of Cambridge because of the colour of her skin.
The Duchess of Sussex was also asked about a memorable joint-outing to Wimbledon in July 2019, where the pair put on a united front and were pictured laughing together.
During the interview she appeared to cast doubt on the authenticity of that seemingly affable appearance, saying: ‘Nothing is what it looks like’.