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It has been 20 years since the world found out about the budding romance between the Prince and Princess of Wales – and according to an expert, over the last two decades, there’s been an ‘evolution’ and ‘powerful shift’ in their bond
The Prince and Princess of Wales have shown a ‘quiet revolution’ in their relationship through a “powerful shift” in their gestures, a body language expert has claimed.
It was 20 years ago this week that Prince William was first pictured with his then-girlfriend Kate for the first time on a loved-up Swiss skiing holiday. Much has changed over the last two decades, with the couple splitting, getting back together, marrying and having three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Today they have the lofty titles of Prince and Princess of Wales with William now taking time to care for his family as Kate undergoes cancer treatment following abdominal surgery earlier this year.
According to body language expert Judi James, over the past 20 years, the couple’s body language dynamic has had a “quiet revolution”. She told the Mirror: “There’s been a powerful shift in their signals of status and control as a loving couple as well as a professional double act.
“This has been a colluded ‘revolution’ though, not a battle for power. Every step of the way we have also been shown an emotional unfurling as they have been increasingly confident about showing signals of love and affection to the world.
“Kate’s introduction as William’s bride did suggest a rather quiet and compliant nature. She was walking behind him at the outset and she entered the royal firm without any disruption. After the boat-rocking of the previous generation’s marriages, Kate looked like the perfect calming presence.”
But Judi added that even in those early days and during Kate’s introduction to royal life, there were “clues that Kate was more than just a perfect smile”. She added: “When the couple were out on royal visits it was Kate’s body language being mirrored by William.
“Their strong mirroring trait has always defined like-minded thinking for this couple but it’s the one instigating the poses who tends to be the more powerful presence and it was William copying Kate’s waving style and smiles, suggesting she might be a stronger presence than everyone thought.
“William’s fear of producing the same soap opera interest in his wife as his mother suffered led to some negligible PDAs between the couple although their glances and shared smiles often told us enough about their love and mutual affection.
“Slowly though this cautious body language has changed. Kate has very gradually emerged as the strong matriarchal figure the royal firm needed after the death of the Queen and we have even seen her quietly promoting change, like the way she engineered the ‘chat’ between William and Harry after their grandfather’s funeral and how she seems to have brokered a closer relationship between Charles and William.
“When Kate isn’t smiling her lips suggest a pursing gesture that will suggest firmness. And all of this has led to a more relaxed and confident William who has looked increasingly happy to stand back and watch his wife step further forward as well as delightedly enjoying their more tactile and romantic PDAs.
Judi continued: “Unlike his father, whose upstaging by his first wife prompted a jealous response, William looks happy to see Kate glowing in the spotlight. The couple might be competitive when it comes to anything sporting but in terms of taking the lead on visits and Kate’s ability to stun on the red carpet, William looks happy to watch with pride.
“Theirs has grown into a very even power balance now, which sits well for their future roles as King and Queen. They still manage their PDAs well enough to avoid becoming a royal soap opera and in terms of support and being the wing-man William lost thanks to the rift with his brother, Kate appears to have more than filled the vacancy.”
