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Kate's unconscious hand gesture gives major clue to her approach to chemo

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Kate's unconscious hand gesture gives major clue to her approach to chemo

One subtle gesture during Princess Kate's cancer message may have revealed her approach to treatment, a body language expert has revealed.

Brave Princess Kate appeared stoic when she delivered a deeply personal address to the public on Friday, announcing she had been diagnosed with cancer. The future Queen is currently in the first stages of preventative chemotherapy and told concerned royal watchers she is in safe hands with an 'amazing' medical team.

The emotional announcement came after weeks of wild speculation online about her health, while in private, she and Prince William worked to explain the difficult news to their three children, Prince George, aged 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.

Kate explained that her diagnosis had come from post-operative tests after she had undergone "major abdominal surgery" in January, when her condition was initially thought to be non-cancerous. She explained: "As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok."

Body language expert Judi James, told The Mirror that an almost imperceptible gesture made by the Princess of Wales as she spoke directly to the public in her filmed statement could indicate how she is approaching her cancer treatment.

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"Her left hand raises to show a desire to keep control and to reassure when she says she is in the 'early stages of chemo'," James explained, noting that seemingly unconscious gestures that Kate made with her hands throughout the statement could reveal quite a lot about her state of mind.

At some points in the video, Kate could be seen clasping her hands together, which the body language expert noted "suggests willpower tinged with some anxiety."

Kate's unconscious hand gesture gives major clue to her approach to chemoBody language expert Judi James says Kate's hand movements are telling

Equally, James explained that there was only one glimpse in the Princess of Wales' hand gestures that showed a need for reassurance and support, which, the expert claimed, she tried to give to herself as she made the difficult announcement.

"Her only concession to any inner anxiety comes from a very slight and gentle thumb rub, which is a self-comfort gesture," James said. She added that Kate demonstrated body language signals throughout her statement that could indicate some conflict in how she was feeling, with the princess showing a mix of strength and vulnerability.

In her statement, Kate appealed for privacy as she focussed on her recovery and her young family: "We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now, I must focus on making a full recovery."

Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com

Emma Mackenzie

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