Royal fans were treated to an unsual display from the Royal Family at Ascot on Wednesday.
The family were out in force with Prince William joined by his cousins and her husband , and her husband , and and her spouse .
While the group is known to be close, royal protocol dictates a certain level of formality at public events. Not so this year.
There were warm hugs, moments of real tactile affection and much laughter at the event - a sign that something has shifted within the royal family, according to one expert.
There was much laughter within the royal party (Getty Images)"The royals have been under attack from a new, more potent ‘enemy’ though in the shape of Charles and Kate’s illnesses and that seems to have produced a desire to not just re-convene and show unity but to reaffirm those bonds publicly via these tactile behaviours," Judi James exclusively told The Mirror.
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"They are congruent and authentic bonding rituals, too, not the kind of show-pony behaviours we get treated to when warring royals are told to play together nicely. These look like an authentic coming together and rounding up of the wagons in the face of recent anxieties."
She added: "These rituals have nothing to do with any mirroring of Harry and Meghan's brand of tactile body language. Theirs is only shown between each other or to register support for strangers on their 'royal' visits. William’s rituals here are for extended family, which is a different level of bonding altogether."
Prince William reunited with his mother-in-law Carole (Getty Images)
Zara was seen warmly receiving Queen Camilla (WireImage)William in particular was in high spirits at the event - one funny incident with Princess Eugenie prompted comparisons with his cheeky youngest son, Prince Louis. At one time, it was thought that Eugenie had 'sided' with Harry and Meghan following their fallout from the family - but she and William looked closer than ever and they laughed and hugged.
William was seen warmly putting his arm around Mike Tindall as they greeted each other, while Zara was spotted affectionately resting her head on William's shoulder at the event, their arms linked together.
William also reunited with his in-laws, Carole and Michael Middleton - and was a perfect gent when Carole's heel got stuck in the grass, offering out his hand for support.
Judi added: "This touching, hugging, kissing and then subtler checking and clothing-adjusting touches resemble the kind of tribal animal behaviours you see after a battle with a rival tribe has been won.
"It re-affirms the strength of the bonding within that group, often despite the fact that there have been internal battles going on prior to the ones with their rival group. They are letting each other know that, despite internal squabbles, they have each other’s backs in a real war. The rituals will involve hugging, touching and grooming rituals and some of that behaviour might easily relate to these displays by the Firm."
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