Beaming Kate Middleton showing 'her real shine' as William displays 'protective instinct'
The Princess of Wales was the picture of elegance as she joined the King, the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening. And, according to leading body language expert Darren Stanton Kate was showing "her real shine" and "looks very happy to be back in the fold".
Although it will not mark a permanent return to duties following an incredibly difficult year, the Princess will also join senior members of the family to attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday morning.
Speaking exclusively to OK! on behalf of Spin Genie, Darren Stanton shares: "The most striking thing that we see non-verbally from Kate is a fantastic smile. Her whole face is engaged and her eyes are engaged. The eyes are a window to the soul, they're engaged showing she is very much in the moment and enjoying being in the presence of others.
"Where Kate is seen clapping alongside William, his body language differs from hers. He seems more tense and alert, whereas Kate appears far more relaxed and has a calm aura about her. In William’s face we can slightly see this tension, which is quite unusual for him. It’s a protective instinct from him, but he isn’t overbearing, he allows Kate to have her own space and present herself independently.
"That connection between a couple, that telepathy of knowing what the other is thinking and what they want, is very prevalent between Kate and William. We see this in their eye contact and it’s reflective of the strong rapport they have.
"They look at each other for a prolonged period, say 8 or 9 seconds, which people tend to do only with romantic partners or family members they share a close bond with. The pair are subtly tactile, their closeness is demonstrated in little touches, she may touch his elbow, he may touch her arm - it’s reassurance gestures to show they are there for each other.
"Kate is showing a real shine to her, she looks radiant and has a great presence here and looks very happy to be back in the fold and back to her usual duties.”
The princess looked stunning in an elegant black dress as she arrived at the London venue alongside her husband, smiling as she took her place to celebrate Britain's servicemen and women. This marks Kate's first high-profile appearance since her cancer diagnosis, following a challenging year that Prince William described as the "hardest" of his life.
During his visit to South Africa earlier this week to host the fourth annual Earthshot Prize, William gave a searingly honest interview to UK journalists in Cape Town on his “brutal” year which saw the King and the Princess of Wales diagnosed with cancer.
Opening up, he said: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult. But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”
The confirmation that the Princess would attend both events came as a thrill to royal fans - particularly given Kate's many military associations, namely as Colonel of the Irish Guards and as Commodore in Chief of the Fleet Air Arm (a position she honoured on Saturday night by wearing a their insignia below her poppy).
Speaking to OK! about Kate's decision to attend both events, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said: "It’s wonderful to have the Princess of Wales back and feeling well enough to attend both events. She must feel pretty chuffed that William made such a public tribute to her in South Africa.
"To hear your husband say that you have been 'amazing' during such an incredibly difficult year must mean in the world. Knowing that he is so proud of her will probably make her all the more determined to get fighting fit again and back to normal working when she feels strong enough."
The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance is held annually on the Saturday evening of Remembrance weekend and this year's event commemorates significant milestones, including the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, 25 years since Nato peacekeeping forces were deployed in Kosovo, and 10 years since British troops withdrew from Afghanistan. Hosted by Adrian Lester, the event features performances by British music icons such as Sir Tom Jones and Alexandra Burke, paying tribute to the nation's servicemen and women.
The second event on Sunday morning will see Kate witness the King and William laying floral tributes at the Cenotaph from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, joining in on the moving two-minute silence and observing the veteran's parade. The King's wreath will echo those of George VI and Elizabeth II, flaunting the monarch’s racing hues of scarlet, purple, and gold.
William is set to lay his own tribute too, featuring the Prince of Wales's feathers attached to a ribbon of Welsh crimson at this poignant Portland stone edifice. Also expected at the Cenotaph service are Sophie and Edward - the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her spouse Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent.
And while the Princess of Wales is making a spectacular return to attend both the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening and the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, Queen Camilla has had to pull out of her appearances owing to a chest infection.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said. "Following doctors’ guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend’s Remembrance events. While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week."
