25 June 2024 , 16:22
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A body language expert said Prince William is looking less “lost” without the Princess of Wales by his side as he welcomed Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako on their state visit from Japan.
William played a key royal role as he formally welcomed them, escorting them from their London hotel to Horse Guards Parade to meet the King and Queen. He smiled as the three exchanged pleasantries and posed for pictures.
Body language expert Judi James said William “looks less ‘lost’ without Kate by his side than he has tended to at recent outings." She added: "He strides up to his quests with confidence, looking very much like the leading royal.” The Princess of Wales is continuing to focus on her recovery, making her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis at Trooping the Colour this month.
Prince William greets Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako of Japan at their hotel in London (PA)Her illness comes at a stressful time for the royal family given King Charles III’s own cancer diagnosis. Kate has said she is “Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal,” but that she is not "out of the woods yet."
Judi said William offered “His hand in an ‘announcement’ gesture" to the visiting Japanese head of state. She added: “When he clasps both their hands the shake lasts for quite a few seconds and he chats throughout. His hand shake with the Empress seems to involve a head bow and eye contact with raised brows to again show signals of a friendly approach.”
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Judi continued: “William leads the conversations with good eye contact and some animated body language, seeming to help his guests to relax and smile in the way that his grandmother always could.
“His bashful smile and his ‘fig leaf’ pose with the Japanese Emperor and Empress here combine, along with his head tilt in their direct, to create a politely welcoming greeting despite the obvious differences in height.”
King Charles and Emperor Naruhito smile as they travel in a carriage procession along The Mall (Getty Images)Judi also said that William showed signs of an “outburst of pent-up emotions” in recent images at a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley. William was snapped laughing with Prince George and Princess Charlotte along with Taylor and her boyfriend Travis Kelce.
Judi said William “erupted joyfully at the Taylor Swift concert” and that “touches and gestures of maternal-style support and care from his three ‘fairy godmothers’ Zara, Carole and Sophie at Ascot seem to have re-energised” him.