Since making their first appearance as a couple in Anglesey in 2011, the Prince and Princess of Wales have grown into their roles as a king and queen-in-waiting.
During their visit to Ynys Mon and Swansea on Tuesday, the royal couple looked relaxed as they met with RNLI rescuers and locals, before travelling south to Swansea.
During the appearance, which was the couple’s first visit to the home nation since they were given the titles Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles, William and Kate wowed the crowds, with the Princess even making friends with a few children along the way.
Body language expert Judi James noted the Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured) looked more settled in their roles during yesterday’s appearance in Anglesey compared to 11 years ago
The body language expert noted that back in 2011, during the Princess of Wales’s first public appearance, Kate held her bag in front of her as a ‘barrier’
It was symbolic that the royal couple, who will one day be King and Queen Consort, chose to visit Anglesey during their first visit to Wales in their new roles – where William’s then-fiancée Kate Middleton had carried out her first royal engagement 11 years earlier.
And according to body language expert Judi James, the royal couple looked more at ease on this visit as they settle into their roles as Prince and Princess of Wales and have ‘grown so much in terms of confidence and sociability’.
She said in the couple’s 2011 appearance in the north Wales town, they tended to ‘pause and pose’ more, adding they were ‘looking unsure about taking a more energetic and active approach to the public and their appearance’.
Judi explained this is known as a ‘passive “here we are” approach’.
In contrast, she said their appearance yesterday was a ‘there you are’ approach as they made steps to engage the crowd ‘with a speedy-paced energy and enthusiasm as though greeting old friends’.
Charlotte Bunting, two gave Kate a gift of a snowman knitted teddy bear before she left the church with William
Kate beamed as she waved goodbye to Charlotte after the royals visit to the community church
Charlotte tugged at the Princess of Wales’s motherly heartstrings at St Thomas Church, in Swansea, where she was greeted by royal fans
Judi said: ‘Their body language is open and relaxed, when they used to self-diminish, keeping their arms tight to their sides in a self-hug of anxiety.’
Looking to the Princess of Wales in particular, Judi noted the placing of her handbag shows she is more at ease during the appearance.
‘Kate used to hold her bag in front of her torso in a barrier ritual and William employed a nervous hand clasp,’ she said.
‘Now they both walk with their arms hanging loosely at their sides or offer friendly waves to the crowd.’
She added the way the Prince and Princess of Wales smile at the crowd is also revealing as it differs from the smiles they offered to the public years ago.
‘Years ago it was all about royal smiles, rather fixed-looking long-term smiles that were social rather than authentic,’ Judi said.
‘Now they use flooding smiles that look natural and which form a tie-sign connection of rapport with the crowds. They also vary their smiles to empathetic, open mouthed grins of joy.’
Judi added the way the Prince and Princess relate to each other also shows their strong partnership, as she notes they now walk alongside each other.
She said: ‘William and Kate now arrive side by side, mirroring each other but without any huddling or standing behind.
Body language expert Judi noted the way the Prince and Princess used to
Judi noted the couple (pictured in 2011) now walk side-by-side and ‘mirror’ each other, which they did not do in their earlier public appearances
‘Kate also moves forward with total confidence to greet children by ducking down to their height and offering small hugs and touches, even ‘double-bagging’ by waving and chatting to the parents at the same time.’
On a windy February day in 2011, Kate Middleton and Prince William visited the same community in Anglesey, where the now-Princess of Wales carried out her first royal engagement ahead of her wedding to Prince William two months later.
At the time, the couple were living in Anglesey, where William was working as an air sea rescue pilot for the RAF.
Kate beamed as she christened the new Hereford Endeavour lifeboat with a bottle of champagne while her husband-to-be lovingly watched on.
Recalling the event, RNLI volunteer Dafydd Griffiths told Town & Country magazine: ‘They’re such friendly, down-to-earth people, lovely. I was quite surprised how down-to-earth they were to be honest, I think everyone will tell you that.’
Another local, Colin Edwards, had given Kate a framed picture of her husband-to-be, Prince William, as a child, to which she responded: ‘Look at his knees!’
During the walkabout Kate was pictured in a Herringbone coat she had owned for at least five years, showing members of the public she was keen to recycle items of clothing – something the Princess of Wales has continued to do throughout her time making royal engagements.
Yesterday the Princess of Wales was wearing a £599 L.K. Bennett ‘Spencer’ coat in red – which some suggested could be a nod to her late mother-in-law and former Princess of Wales, who was born Diana Spencer.
To pay tribute to the Welsh people, she also opted for Welsh brand Spells of Love’s £79 ‘Alia Hoops’ in 18ct Recycled Gold.