A Body Language Expert Analyzes 22 Iconic Photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Falling for each other

Long before they became the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate were just two college kids. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, considering Prince William was born a future king … but you might not realize it looking at this adorable photo of the couple on the day of their graduation ceremony at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland on June 23, 2005.

“What I love about them in this photo is how spontaneous and unposed they are,” Wood says. “There’s so much joy, energy and movement in this photo. She’s leaning her body into his, and he’s responding by creating a heart shape with his body and hers. I also love the intimacy of her hand on his belly and how he gently places his hand on her to show connection.”

Touching me, touching you

This photo was taken moments after William finished playing the Field Game in an “old boys match” at Eton College on March 18, 2006, one of his secret passions. The young couple appears to be sharing a sweet kiss (and perhaps even a conspiratorial secret), but what really stands out to Wood is how their bodies mirror each other. “Their matching touch shows they feel equal love and strength in the relationship,” she explains.

Attending another couple’s wedding

In this shot from Oct. 23, 2010, which shows William and Kate at the wedding of their friends Harry Meade and Rosie Bradford, Wood sees the hints of the young couple’s upcoming engagement. “Wedding photos can be difficult to read,” Wood points out, “but it’s clear from this one that these two are in a really good place. She clearly has his full attention, with the way he’s turned his head toward her.”

Wood also notes that their elbows touch as they walk. Translation: They really want to be close to each other.

Making it official

This is William and Kate’s official engagement photo, taken on Nov. 16, 2010, at St. James’s Palace in London. After eight years together, William popped the question with his mother’s sapphire engagement ring during a vacation in Kenya, and you can see not only how thrilled but also how connected they are. “I love how he tilts his upper body into her in the official photo,” Wood says. “Even in such a formal, posed photo, it shows he’s willing to lean into her. And yet she meets him halfway by draping her arm through his elbow in a show of formality.”

And let’s not forget those toothy grins, which Wood reads as pure and genuine. All you have to do is “count those happy teeth,” she says.

Showing their love to the world

With their wedding drawing near, William and Kate attended the Naming Ceremony and Service of Dedication of the Atlantic 85 Lifeboat, Hereford Endeavour, on Feb. 24, 2011. Even if you didn’t know this was taken just weeks before their wedding, you’d “know,” according to Wood, who can’t help but notice how much Kate is beaming (“She’s just lit up with happiness!”) and how the gaze between the two is so perfectly and mutually eye-to-eye.

Greeting the crowd right after their wedding

You see that perfectly mutual gaze once again in this photo taken on April 29, 2011, right after the couple’s wedding at Westminster Abbey. But what really stands out for Wood, in this case, is that while it would be perfectly acceptable for the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to have their attention fixed on the crowd gathered before them, it’s clear that they only have eyes for each other. “The picture shows a moment of uninhibited joy,” she says.

Cuddling up like high school kids

It’s Day 6 of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and sure, it’s possible these two are just really enthusiastic about sports. But it’s far more likely their mutual “glee,” as Wood puts it, has to do with how they feel about each other. “Look how they’re all wrapped up in each other,” Wood points out. And she means it literally. “It’s a full-weight hug—he could lift her up in that moment. It tells me that there’s a lot of love and trust.”

And once again, their bodies are “forming a perfect heart shape.” If she didn’t know they were a royal couple, Wood says, she might mistake them for two high school kids at the homecoming game who are “hot for each other.” While showing affection in public totally goes against the royal etiquette rules, they really don’t seem to care in this moment.

Beaming at their daughter

This photo of Kate and William leaving the Lido Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital with their daughter, Charlotte, on May 2, 2015, is emblematic of just how “in sync” they are. Gazing mutually in the same direction, as Wood points out they often do, their “focus is absolutely” on their new bundle of joy, and yet William’s arm is wrapped around Kate, and their bodies overlap. “Her gaze is adoring, and his gaze is adoring,” says Wood. “I also love how his body is in a C shape around them. That’s protective and also shows love.”

Goofing around in the Alps

Enjoying a brief skiing holiday in the French Alps on March 3, 2016, Kate and William seem to find themselves feeling “playful,” Wood tells Reader’s Digest. It’s evident how much she is “enjoying his energetic and playful desire to hold her close and dance in the snow.” And not only do we see closeness, but also a passion. Get a room, you two!

Showing up as a family at the Sussex wedding

On May 19, 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle as the world watched in awe. Later, it was revealed that it wasn’t all smooth sailing between the Cambridges and the newly married Sussexes, and it may be evident here already. As Wood notes, Kate is looking “really tired”—though, of course, that might be because she gave birth to Prince Louis less than a month earlier.

As always, William makes a point of leaning in as he speaks to his wife. As a family, “they form a tight cluster,” Wood adds. “I like that there’s mutual handholding. He’s holding his son’s hand and she’s holding her daughter’s hand, and it seems very natural and relaxed. The picture shows mutual parenting, and that’s nice in a couple. They’re clearly a close family unit.”

Posing unusually stiff and formal

Wood can’t help but notice how posed and proper Kate and William look as they attend the first day of the Royal Ascot in London on June 18, 2019. A top-hatted William reaches his hand toward his wife, who stands stiffly beside him, her own hands firmly clutching her purse. “She’s holding in a little bit of discomfort, and she’s not meeting his gaze,” says Wood. William, on the other hand, “is in a different place entirely. He’s trying to connect and figure out what she is really feeling.”

At the time this photo was taken, media outlets were reporting that William had had an affair with Kate’s now-former friend Rose Hanbury. Whether it’s true or not, Kate’s tension is difficult to conceal, despite the fact that William seems to be seeking her approval.

Stressing out over the Sussex drama

Clearly, 2019 was a tough year for Kate and William. First, there was the aforementioned media brouhaha, and then there was the departure of the Sussexes to North America, possibly forever. That being said, Harry and Meghan did briefly return to the United Kingdom in March to observe Commonwealth Day with the royal family.

Nevertheless, in this photo taken on March 9, Wood notices how the stress has taken a toll on William and Kate (not to mention Harry, who looks vaguely rumpled and a bit disgruntled as Meghan struggles to maintain a smile). “They look like they’ve aged decades, and their heavy sadness doesn’t match the event,” she says.

Giving hope to the nation

Even for those who managed to avoid infection during the pandemic, that time presented some enormous challenges. Yet William and Kate seem to be happily in sync once again in this screenshot of a video call on May 15, 2020, in which they are shown speaking to crisis volunteers. Wood notes how their bodies overlap, and “Kate’s head is tilted naturally toward William and his is tilted toward her. They’re sharing joy and happiness with other people, but they are doing it as a unit, which you can tell by their head and neck placement as well as the matching smile.”

And if they had appeared to age decades in the photo from Commonwealth Day, it looks like they’ve now reversed the process.

Cheering on the English soccer team

On July 11, 2021, Kate and William attended the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at London’s Wembley Stadium. Their eldest son, Prince George, a massive soccer fan just like his dad, also came along. “Kate’s shoulder is pitched down toward William, and she’s showing her full neck with her head looking at him, which means she wants to connect,” says Wood. “And he’s connecting back with a full upper-teeth smile and twinkle in his eyes.”

Unfortunately for the royal trio, England ended up losing the match. William later tweeted that he found the result “heartbreaking,” adding, “You’ve all come so far, but sadly this time it wasn’t our day. You can all hold your heads high, and be so proud of yourselves—I know there’s more to come.”

Flirting at the Royal Ascot

Nothing to lose on this occasion! When Kate and William attended Royal Ascot on June 17, 2022, they were beaming at each other in the Royal Box. “He has his head down slightly and is looking up at her. That’s a flirting gaze we usually see more often in women,” Wood says. “If there were a bubble above his head, it would be saying, ‘Hey, sexy! I’m a bit shy, but do you want to kiss?’”

Kate is answering with a wide and open smile, while making eye contact. “Her look says, ‘Hey, you’re fun,’” Wood adds, describing their interaction as “nice, energetic and playful.”

Mourning after the queen’s passing

This picture, taken on Sept 15, 2022, shows the couple in an entirely different setting. Ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, William and Kate are looking at floral tributes outside Sandringham Estate, where the monarch died the previous week. “What I like here is that he actually reaches out and touches her on the back,” Wood says. “It’s a neutral, nonsexual comfort touch.”

Kate’s body language, Wood adds, “is very restrained, with the hands over her pelvis.” Wood stresses it’s “toward the situation, not her husband”—and Kate’s feelings are totally understandable, considering the close bond she shared with the queen.

Celebrating Kate’s post-cancer comeback

Trooping the Colour is the reigning monarch’s official birthday bash, traditionally celebrated with a spectacular military parade. However, on June 15, 2024, all eyes were on Kate instead of Charles, since it was her first public appearance after being treated for cancer. Here, we can see Kate, William and the kids on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, just waiting for the flypast, the highlight of the event. While the youngsters look rather unimpressed, Kate and William seem to enjoy a private moment in front of millions.

“What’s nice here is that there’s, again, overlapping in their bodies, and the back of his arm is touching the front of hers,” Wood says. “Often in royal family photos, the couple stands apart, so this photo is really special.” Wood also notes the loving gaze the couple shares: “You can see that he wants to say something private to her, and she is very pleased, reaching with her head and neck toward him. It shows a mutual desire to connect intimately in a formal moment.”

It seems like young Prince George is taking note of his parents’ special moment too!

Celebrating their wedding anniversary in Scotland

Who says that state visits have to be boring? Kate and William certainly seemed to have a great time when visiting the Isles of Mull in Scotland on April 29, 2025, where they met with local residents. In this picture, “their bodies are in a subtle heart posture,” according to Wood. “Their lower bodies are in a V-shape, and there’s a lot of connection, all the way up where their bodies are touching. It’s nice—and a bit sexual.”

As Wood notes, William is acting “sweet and a little boyish” as he shows something to his wife. Meanwhile, Kate is “happily playing along.”

The cute snap was taken on a very special day: the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary.

Fuming at Andrew at a funeral

On Sept. 16, 2025, the pair attended the funeral of Katherine, the Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral. Both dressed in black, with Kate wearing a mourning veil, they look distressed and sad. But, according to Wood, there’s a lot more to it. “While the left side of her face shows sadness, the right side shows suppressed anger to the man to her right. Her face is asymmetrical, and her lips are pressed together, which shows me that it’s toward him and not her husband.”

While, of course, a funeral is not the right place to discuss family issues, it’s not hard to guess why Kate might have been angry. The former Prince Andrew, on her right, was embroiled in the Epstein scandal and would be stripped of his titles just six weeks later.

As for Kate and William as a couple, it is clear that they’re a team, no matter what life throws at them. “I like that they’re standing so close together,” Wood says. “It looks like a one-person silhouette, which is nice for a couple.”

Sending mixed signals in Northern Ireland

Just weeks later, the pair was back on the road, this time visiting Northern Ireland. On Oct. 14, 2025, they stopped at Long Meadow Cider, an apple farm. While they were learning about the art of cider making, Kate unintentionally provided some insight into her marriage. “She is playing with her wedding ring, which typically indicates a shift in a relationship,” says Wood. “It can show that a couple is growing further apart or closer.” Judging by her smile, it seems safe to say that it’s “a positive shift she likes.”

William, on the other hand, is sending some mixed signals. “He has a cover smile—it’s not real,” she reveals. “[He also has] a sadness in his downward gaze that he’s trying to hide.” While we obviously can’t know for sure what crossed his mind in that very moment, it might well have something to do with his disgraced uncle once again.

Getting serious at a state visit

“This is not a couple photo,” Wood says. “If you didn’t recognize them, you wouldn’t know that they’re together.” This snap was taken on Dec. 3, 2025, during a visit to Windsor Castle’s Royal Collection with German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier. While it’s unclear what caused the trouble in paradise, Wood says the pair is “in a conversation, but her heart is not turned toward him, and her mouth is saying, ‘I’m not showing what I’m feeling.’”

William, however, is making an effort to connect. “But [Kate’s] body language says, ‘No, not now,’” says Wood.

Sharing a moment of joy

Of course, everyone has good days and bad days, and this certainly was a good one. When visiting the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in London to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary, the couple were back to beaming once again while talking to volunteers. “They look genuinely happy and joyful here with their open smiles,” Wood says. “And if you had a sound to the picture, you could hear laughter coming out.”

While the pair is further apart than in other photos, Wood still notices intimate couple signals. “They’re both looking in the same direction at what makes them laugh, and their upfront chest and hands are matching,” she says. “They are clearly sharing a moment of happiness.” And when it comes to couples, that type of unconscious symmetry reveals more than words ever can!

Additional reporting by Lauren Cahn.

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources: