In the biggest Royal family reunion since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, one senior royal was looking ‘anxious’ as they approached the chapel for Easter Sunday
The Royals put on a united front as they headed towards their Easter Sunday service – but while most of them looked confident, Prince William couldn’t hide his stress.
That’s according to body language expert Judi James, who noted the senior royal was “anxious” as he walked with his family through the crowds towards St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, as they do each year.
Following the King and Queen, the whole family put on a major show of unity, with it being their first biggest gathering since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Andrew was not included, as well as his his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie who also skipped this morning’s service with the agreement of their uncle the King that they made alternative plans.
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But as William and Kate along with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis walked out, Judi noted: “It was only William showing a subtle tell of any anxiety with a gesture he shares ironically with his brother when they are under scrutiny or pressure which is the hand placed over the stomach in a self-sooth barrier ritual.
“With George now grown up enough to walk with his mother holding a very grown-up-looking conversation, William walked with his younger son Louis, who marched along wearing a very serious and determined expression.”
His anxiety might have been fuelled by the absence of the Duchess of Edinburgh, who didn’t attend.
While Prince Edward and their son James, the Earl of Wessex, were present, Sophie did not join them, as she is ‘under the weather ‘.
Meanwhile Charlotte took on a mature role in the procession, with Judi noting: “It was Charlotte leading the group and taking on the more active, high profile royal role, voluntarily waving and smiling at the crowds of her own volition, with Kate even mirroring her own daughter with a brief wave, rather than the other way around.”
She compared Charlotte’s gestures to her grandmother and added: “It’s always unfair to draw any comparisons with Diana but Charlotte’s body language here looked achingly familiar: the self-effacing elegance, with her back upright but her arms pulled into her torso; the tie-sign smile that appeared aimed directly at the fans and then her low, rather sweet and again self-effacing wave that Diana would use to make herself look relatable and likeable.
“Charlotte even showed signs of a desire to protect and support her siblings, turning back with a proud regal smile to check on Louis as she led her family towards the chapel.”
With the spotlight on the smaller number of Royals in attendance, Judi said: “This was a very important body language narrative during their Easter soft launch of the newly pruned royal firm. The focus needed to be on attendees rather than any dark shadows left from those that were missing.
“And the projected message needed to be about stability and continuity. Rising easily to the challenge were The Waleses. They arrived in an independent royal huddle, with other family members like Princess Anne and Prince Edward mingling together behind.”
William and Kate missed the service last year as they were spending the weekend with their children in Norfolk, and they were absent in 2024 as it came just over a week after Kate released an emotional video message disclosing that she had started a course of preventative chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis. This year, Kate wore an oatmeal-coloured dress from the brand Self Portrait that featured two very distinct pineapple symbols on the jacket, while Charlotte was in a tan coat with a blue dress underneath.
Following them were Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence as well Prince Edward and his son James, Viscount Severn. Sophie and Edward’s daughter Lady Louise did not attend either as she is busy with her university studies.
Others among the royal party was Peter Phillips and his wife-to-be Harriet Sperling. The Easter outing marks the first formal family event Harriet has appeared at with her daughter Georgina, 15, joining Peter’s daughters Savannah and Isla.
Charles and Camilla, dressed in a red wool dress and coat by Fiona Clare, a hat by Phillip Treacy and a broach which belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II, arrived by car to shouts of ‘God Save the King’. They were greeted outside the chapel by their family before they headed inside for the service, with the King playfully tapping seven-year-old grandson Louis on the shoulder as they went inside.
Last year both Andrew and Fergie joined the Easter service at Windsor, but neither attended this year due to their banishment from the Royal Family. The former Duke of York is expected to spent the day on the Sandringham estate, where he now lives and was seen walking his dogs yesterday. It is unclear how Fergie, who has not been seen in public since December, will be marking the occasion.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.mirror.co.uk ’
