Prince Williams gesture shows inner tension as he strives to be family rock
The Prince of Wales and his father, King Charles, both showed signs of "inner tension" during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, a leading body language expert has claimed.
Speaking to The Mirror, the expert noted that both royals were blinking rapidly as they commemorated the end of the First World War and other conflicts at the annual event.
Body language expert Judi James told the paper: "Rapid blinking at an increased rate, as both William and Charles were doing, tends to be caused either by a suppression of tears or it can be a physiological response that is down to an increase in adrenalin prompted by tension, anxiety or even anger!"
Judi added: "In Charles' case, I would call the 'tears option' as his eyes did look damp and the way he rolled his eyes upward a couple of times would be another technique to avoid actually shedding tears."
However, she noted for William there was "staccato blinking that was more frequent, which would say more about inner tension".
"He seems to be presenting himself as the family rock that his father can rely on but that display of strength and calm could be underpinned by some inner tension in terms of getting it right," Judi explained.
The expert shared how William may have been keen to avoid "showing any vulnerability" as his gestures required effort as he stood by his father.
"William's body language now places him as a beacon of calm and strength at formal, traditional royal events like this," Judi detailed.
"His features looked softer as though keeping a fond eye on his father, although a muscle working in his jaw did suggest some inner tension and alertness."
Both Charles and William laid a wreath at The Cenotaphy while one was laid on Queen Camilla's behalf by her equerry, Major Ollie Plunkett. She and the Princess of Wales stood on a balcony of the Foreign Office to watch the service.
Other royals who laid wreaths at the base of the monument were the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal. The Duke of Kent, 88, had to "reluctantly" stay at home after suffering from "episodic mobility problems" and had a wreath laid on his behalf by his equerry.
The late Queen, who died last year, considered Remembrance Sunday, which commemorates the war dead, one of the most significant and important engagements in the Royal calendar.
The nation's longest reigning monarch, who lived through the Second World War as a teenager and was head of the armed forces, only missed seven Cenotaph services during her reign.
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