THE NATION is in mourning in the wake of the Queen’s death, and it’s an unimaginably heartbreaking time for family members like Prince William and Harry.
The Prince and Princess of Wales made an emotional visit to Sandringham today to view tributes left for the beloved Monarch, and a body language expert claims William displayed “inner tension” and “feels powerless.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Sandringham today to look at the floral tributes from well-wishers
The grieving couple viewed a sea of flowers and notes from members of the public on the Norfolk estate this afternoon.
As they paid their respects, Judi James said Prince William revealed his grief in a number of subtle ways.
Mirroring
Body language expert Judi James said the couple displayed ‘conscious mirroring’
During the engagement, Prince William and Kate Middleton clasped their hands in a similar fashion as they viewed the heartwarming tributes.
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ROYAL RESPECT
Royal fans spot Kate’s subtle tribute to the Queen at Buckingham Palace
Judi explained: “Mirroring is a sign of a very close and like-minded relationship.
“William and Kate have always used both conscious mirroring, signalling mutual respect and a very even-status relationship and subconscious mirroring, which shows their matching ideals and thinking even when they are out of each other’s view.”
Stomach touches
Judi claims William had one hand ‘clasped over his lower torso’ like a ‘self-protective’ barrier
Dressed in a smart navy blue suit, Prince William could be seen placing one hand over his midriff as he gazed down at the flowers.
Judi said of this gesture: “Royals aren’t supposed to do body barrier rituals in public, which is why they rarely if ever cross their arms.
“William does use a fig leaf gesture under pressure, with his hands clasped over his lower torso, but apart from that he tends to do a mimed or truncated barrier ritual like this hand on the stomach.
“It’s an excuse to bring one arm across the body in a self-protective ritual.
“He does it most as a subliminal empathy gesture when Kate is pregnant although that’s clearly not the case currently.”
Finger picking
Judi observed William ‘finger picking,’ and said it can indicate ‘tension’
The future king was also seen curling his hands and fingers at Sandringham and Judi said this is a “self-attack anxiety ritual, like nail-biting or hair-pulling.”
She explained: “It suggests inner tension but it can also signal feelings of powerlessness when being attacked, meaning you turn the attack on yourself in a small act of frustration.
“Which could fit if he’s suppressing grief for the Queen.”
Huge numbers of mourners had already paid their respects following Her Majesty’s death last week, with flowers piled up at the Norwich Gates.
But thousands more made the trip today to see Prince William and Kate, who arrived shortly before 12.30pm.
Many handed bouquets to Kate, who smiled as she interacted with the crowds.
Wills and Kate previously spent time looking at tributes and greeting crowds at Windsor Castle, joined by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Their poignant visit comes after they appeared emotional at a service for the Queen yesterday.
William stood side-by-side with his brother Harry as they followed the coffin to Westminster Hall in a haunting echo of their mother’s funeral in 1997.
The Royal Family united in grief as Her Majesty was left to lie in state in her final public duty.
The King led the Queen’s children and grandchildren from Buckingham Palace past thousands of mourners.
There were tears from some of the devastated family members as they joined in prayers for Her Majesty.
Princess Eugenie and her cousin Lady Louise were both pictured looking upset as the magnitude of the day sunk in.
Harry also wiped his face in a moment of raw emotion before he left hand-in-hand with Meghan.
The Duchess of Sussex and Kate remained close as songs chosen by the Queen echoed from the wooden beams in the room.
As the royals slowly filed out of the hall, William placed a rare, comforting hand on Kate.
The doors of Westminster Hall then opened at 5pm – with millions queuing for hours to pay tribute to Her Majesty, the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.
Her coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, will lie in state at Westminster Hall until 6.30am on Monday – the day of her funeral.
Princess Kate was seen collecting flowers from royal well-wishers
Thousands of people made the trip today to see Prince William and Kate
