The Princess of Wales at one point appeared to emulate King Charles III during her appearance at the annual Christmas Carol in Westminster Abbey, a body language expert has told The Mirror

Princess Kate inadvertently hinted at a massive change in her life during a key royal appointment today, a body language expert has said.

The Princess of Wales, 42, was among the first senior royals to arrive at the annual Christmas Carol service held at Westminster Abbey this evening, appearing initially solo before she was joined by her husband, Prince William, and three children. The younger royals joined after visiting the “kindness tree” on which Prince Louis could be seen leaving a message for the late Queen and Prince Philip. The message read: “Thank you to granny and grandpa because they have played games with me.”

Princess Kate came with no such message, but body language experts who have carefully studied her body language have noticed subtle changes to her composure that speak volumes. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Judi James said she appears to have “changed her body language rituals” and even appeared to emulate the King.

Kate chats to performers ahead of the service ( 
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Ms James started with the Princess’ arrival, saying she emerged with a “radiant” smile before cementing her place as the “leader of the event”. She said: “Kate’s smile on her lone arrival was classic Kate, a radiant, perfect Duchenne smile that threw a warm and grateful-looking connecting tie-sign to the fans outside.

“Her lack of a bag to carry suggested confidence as she has at times used her bags as barriers when she has been feeling vulnerable. Here she just touched the fingers of both hands together or gesticulated as she spoke to again suggest confidence and to define her role as leader of this event.”

Kate arrived with a stunning smile, Ms James said

Ms James said Kate appeared “emotional” during the event ( 
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When she entered the service, the expert added, she expressed an all new “dimension” to her behaviour, with Ms James catching the Princess’ emotion at attending alongside other cancer survivors. She continued: “But when she was greeting the guests inside, we saw a new dimension to Kate’s body language rituals.

“She has always been politely animated but here she was much more openly expressive and emotional with her facial expressions. This is a very moving service for Kate, with other cancer sufferers attending, and that seemed to reflect in her animated expressions that ranged from nose-wrinkled, dimpled laughter to a much more empathetic and concerned look, with steepled brows and the saddest eye expression accompanying a kind mouth smile.”

Kate arrived alone before she was joined by her family ( 
Image:
PA)Ms James added that, at one point during the service, she appeared to mirror King Charles III. She said: “At one point she even seemed to be mirroring her father-in-law, arching her back slightly and performing the kind of playful chuckle that is Charles’s signature look when he is meeting guests.”

Despite this, the strongest mirroring came from Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George, 11, Ms James suggested. She said: “The strongest mirroring though came between William and George. The father and son have famously adopted mirrored poses but it’s usual that, with age, the tendency can decline.

“Here the opposite seems to be true though, with each mirroring the other now, sitting or standing in identical poses for much of the time.”