Prince Williams’s body language while out meeting crowds in Bradford today signalled that the future king has a new found ‘confidence’ despite the recent turbulence the royals have faced.
The Duke of Cambridge presented his wife Kate Middleton with a single white rose this afternoon, after the couple received bunches and bunches of flowers during their visit, where they were warmly received by large crowds.
Body language expert Judi James today told MailOnline that the ‘unusually romantic PDA’ is a clear signal that the couple enjoy meeting crowds while undertaking their royal duties.
Their appearance in the northern city comes as the couple finally got back to royal business amid the turmoil caused by Harry and Meghan’s abdication crisis.
The couple were filmed walking out of Bradford City Hall before greeting crowds. After splitting up and mingling, the couple are then reunited – it is then that, while Kate clutches on to a bunch of white roses, William tenderly hands her a single flower.
Prince William today handed Kate Middleton a single white rose during a visit to the northern city of Bradford
Kate Middleton was seen speaking to crowds at the event and knelt down to engage in conversation with the youngsters
Prince William was also seen waving at crowds today as he left the Khidmat Centre in Bradford
Judi added that it was unlikely but still possible that the country could suffer a Megxit split, or that the country could take sides against either the Cambridge’s or the Sussex’s that ‘rumours of a rift have been made official’.
‘So there could have been a sense of trepidation as William and Kate appeared together in public after Harry and Meghan announced their move to Canada.
‘The rock star reception with crowds screaming approval do have a visible effect on both William and Kate here, though, with their expression turning from mildly anxious to grins of utter delight as they greet the fans.
‘Kate performs some active mirroring with the children in the crowd, offering sweet ‘baby Waves’ before bending to their height to engage them in close up and quite lengthy conversations.’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smile as they speak to young people and employers at Bradford City Hall today
William tried his wife’s handmade milkshake while Kate sampled her husband’s lassi at MyLahore in Bradford
Despite Kate being completely adored by the crowds, Judi said it was actually William who was a ‘revelation’ during today’s visit.
‘Whether it’s relief or delight or both his often shy smile broadens as the crowds show their love and with his signature frown gone you can see his upper cheeks rounded in what’s called an ‘Apple’ effect that is always a sign of genuine pleasure.
‘He engages with the crowds using humour and emphatic gesticulation and there is every suggestion that his confidence is back.
‘Show-boating to the crowd he even hands his wife a rose in an unusually romantic PDA and it’s clear from Kate’s dimpled smile that she’s enjoying the gesture too’.
During the visit today the couple’s first stop was a community project that aims to strengthen bonds between grandparents and grandchildren in the West Yorkshire city.
William and Kate were smiling and tactile with the West Yorkshire crowds who were delighted to see them there
The destination will raise eyebrows due to the upset caused to the Queen who was forced to agree to let her grandson Harry emigrate to Canada with Meghan and Archie this week.
After meeting excited crowds in Bradford’s Centenary Square, the Cambridges headed to British Asian restaurant chain MyLahore where Kate giggled as she made and drank a Kulfi milkshake while her husband knocked up a mango lassi, which he called ‘delicious’ as he took a sip.
Today’s visit to the West Yorkshire city was William and Kate’s first joint public engagement together since a charity event in London two months ago on November 12 for their volunteer text support service Shout.
The engagement in Bradford was announced just last week on January 8 while tensions within the Royal Family were at a high before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said one day later that they were stepping down.
It has been a tumultuous week for the royals which also saw legal documents published in the battle between Meghan and the Mail on Sunday that could lead to her father testifying against her should the case go to trial.
William and Kate will also meet families from the Older Yet Wiser project – a workshop helping grandparents to enhance their relationship with their grandchildren and giving advice on raising children in the 21st century.
The couple – who have three children, George, six, Charlotte, four, and Louis, one – will also visit young people, employers and families at projects that promote cohesion within what is one of Britain’s most diverse cities.