‘Unusually tactile’ Prince William and Kate ‘etched with grief’ ahead of Queen’s funeral, body language pro says
IT'S usually Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who express their love for one another with public displays of affection.
And while William, the Prince of Wales, and his wife Catherine rarely indulge in similar displays, they put on an "unusually tactile" appearance at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Guildford, Surrey, on Friday.
"Despite the very formal and beautifully smart outfits and the way both their faces seem to be etched with grief, this is an unusually tactile Kate and William," body language expert Judi James said.
The pair were seen walking closely together into the army centre, where they met with troops from the Commonwealth who have been deployed to the UK to take part in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.
Of their appearance as they walked in, Judi said: "William performs a barrier ritual, with a very light touching of his fingertips around waist level, while his shoulders appear hunched upward in a self-protective gesture associated with sadness.
"His eyebrows are steepled and his lips pulled together here.
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"Kate’s body posture looks more confident but her narrowed eye expression and her tight lips suggest ongoing sadness."
Upon meeting the soldiers at the army centre, the Princess of Wales was seen placing her hand on the waist on one of the army personnel.
"Her approach to the soldier looks unusual and suggests a sharing of grief via touch," Judi continued.
"The royals have been far more openly emotional and tactile since the Queen’s death and Kate places her left hand on the man’s waist as she speaks to him, in a gesture of empathy.
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"William also seems to both find and give comfort via touch rituals, placing a loving and supportive hand around Kate’s back as they approach their hosts."
Following the royal appearance at the army centre, soldier Greg Gifford, 31, said William told them Her Majesty would be interested "in the detail" of the soldiers - including how they carry out their drills.
He told the PA News agency: "One of the key things I took away from what he said was how the Queen will definitely be looking down on the whole funeral service.
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"He said she would be interested in the detail of the soldiers, how the drill is carried out, it's precision, our dress, things like that."
William and Kate will next be seen attending a 15-minute vigil at Westminster Hall, where the Queen lies in state, alongside his brother and sister-in-law, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, on Saturday.
