Did Kate Middleton’s Tense ‘Concerned’ Gesture Reveal Queen Camilla’s Anxiety at a Major Royal Event?
The Princess of Wales has a close bond with her in-laws, and was on hand to support Queen Camilla when she showed clear signs of nerves at a poignant royal event
It’s has been a worrying time for the Royal Family.
King Charles had to take a step back from duties following his cancer diagnosis and Princess Kate is gradually returning to the spotlight following her own cancer news after she had abdominal surgery on 16 January. Despite the challenging times they’re facing the royals will be banding together behind closed doors. It’s no secret that the family are close, with Princess Kate known to have a special bond with her in-laws, King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Despite her own recovery, she will be in constant contact with the couple amid Charles’s treatment, on hand to support Camilla, who has increased her workload to represent her husband. The connection between the two royal ladies was most evident following the death of the Queen.
Just nine weeks after her passing, Camilla and Kate stood side-by-side on the balcony of the Foreign Office overlooking the Cenotaph, where wreaths were laid by King Charles and Prince William to commemorate Remembrance Sunday in 2022. There was a poignant empty space on the balcony, where the late Queen had once stood. And it was clearly a nerve-wracking experience for Camilla, as she made one of her first high-profile appearances since Charles ascended to the throne. But her daughter-in-law Kate was there to support her.
Body language expert Judi James told the Mirror at the time: “Watching from the balcony Camilla combined signals of regal duty with some rituals of anxiety. Standing beside Kate, she performed a subtle smile of acknowledgement as her wreath was laid and as she turned to Kate on their way from the balcony she threw a rather fond smile as Kate spoke to her. Camilla smiled at Kate for a second time before nodding, again in a gesture of acknowledgement as she walked ahead of Kate in her new role of Queen.
“Otherwise though there were gestures of open anxiety from Camilla. She looked unable to keep totally still and spoke to Kate at one point but while looking straight ahead rather than turning to her. “Kate turned her head quickly in a gesture of polite concern. Kate’s calm and very still body language was in contrast to Camilla’s nervous movements that showed the most in the fluttering of her hymn sheet as her two hands fiddled with it throughout.”
Judi also noted Charles’ body language during the service and the subtle signal he had to suppress his emotion. She added: “Charles stood at the Cenotaph as though totally alone and lost in his thoughts. His mouth was pulled down at the corners and his rapid blinking hinted he was close to tears as he remembered his mother as well as those fallen in action. There was even a micro-gesture of a small spasm of the lips to show suppressed emotions as they played the Last Post.”
