The Royal Family gathered for one of the biggest events in the calendar this week – the annual Commonwealth Day service.
Yesterday saw King Charles and the Princess of Wales make a return appearance to the event, which they were forced to miss last year after they were both diagnosed with cancer.
Kate, in a striking red Catherine Walker coat and pill box hat, arrived at the Abbey with Prince William, with Charles and Queen Camilla following behind. After meeting dignitaries, the foursome, along with Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, had time to greet each other with kisses and curtsies.
William greeted his father the King with kisses on his cheeks before cameras saw them exchanging a few words. And according to lip reader Jeremy Freeman, Charles had a message for his eldest son, telling him: “Good to see you”. It comes as William and Kate were also seen chatting as they arrived and giggling together as they took their seats before the start of the service.
And body language expert Judi James told the Mirror it showed a ‘ transition ‘ from their recent outings – but one moment showed William’s ‘ bashful crush ‘ on his wife. She explained: “William and Kate made the body language transition from ‘ unison ‘ behaviours to mirrored, ‘ free movement ‘ behaviours at this formal royal event.
” Since Kate’s illness, they have been extra tactile and totally connected during their public appearances, using every opportunity to use touches, glances or mimed hugs to move together coupled up like ice skaters or ballroom dancers. But here they performed the equivalent of ‘ free ‘ movement, putting in their professional appearance in a more traditionally regal way but moving while apart in synchronised, mirrored unity as they did so.
“What this showed was a more relaxed approach with no need to check or employ tie-signs. It appeared to signal they were both on strong, repaired form for this event, keeping their signals of utter fondness to a minimum while still keeping totally in sync.
” They walked in together but slightly apart with signs of renewed energy and positivity. William’s beaming smile projected ongoing pride in his wife but he avoided all the steering pats and touches that can imply she has some need of support and encouragement.
“When they did connect as they do here, sitting together, William’s body-scrunched pose and his very youthful smile with eye crinkling and a peek of the front teeth through his lips in response to Kate’s lean and playful smile suggests a bit of a bashful crush is still going on in their relationship”.
The Commonwealth Day service is an important date in the royal calendar and a rare occasion when senior royals are seen together. Performers from across the Commonwealth took part in the service, which featured hymns and prayers in support of the institution and its leaders, and Britain’s Got Talent 2015 semi-finalists, violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason and his sister Jeneba accompanying on piano, played during the service.
Guests included hundreds of schoolchildren, diplomatic representatives from the Commonwealth’s 56-member states, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, his deputy Angela Rayner, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and former Spice Girl Geri Horner.
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Source: Mirror
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