The Princess of Wales has emerged from a challenging year showing a markedly different public persona, according to a leading body language expert.
Following her cancer treatment, Princess Kate displayed a more animated and less guarded demeanour at her fourth Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.
Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline that clear changes were visible in the princess’s behaviour at the event, which will be broadcast on ITV this Christmas Eve.
The transformation comes after a difficult year for the 42-year-old royal, who underwent major abdominal surgery before receiving a cancer diagnosis that led to preventative chemotherapy.
The Princess of Wales has emerged from a challenging year showing a markedly different public persona, according to a leading body language expert.
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James noted that Kate’s “smiles, her laughter, her posture and her energy signals” suggest positive signs of recovery.
The expert drew a notable parallel between Kate’s evolving demeanour and that of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
James said: “Comparing and contrasting the two women is rarely a fair thing to do but it’s interesting how Kate’s illness seems to have opened some small floodgates.”
The Princess’s “flickering, animated body language” and emotional range now echo qualities associated with Diana, the expert suggested.
The expert drew a notable parallel between Kate’s evolving demeanour and that of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana
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James noted that Kate is displaying “stronger and more confident-looking projections of empathy than ever before”.
This shift is particularly significant when interacting with audiences that include cancer survivors, suggesting a deeper personal connection with those she meets.
“She looks more emotionally confident here and far less careful and guarded than she often used to,” James added.
The princess’s transformation was particularly evident in her storytelling moments during the Westminster Abbey event.
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Body language expert Judi James said that clear changes were visible in the Princess’s behaviour at the event
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James highlighted a specific instance where Kate recounted a story about Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte.
“Telling the story about Louis keeping the secret from Charlotte she uses mime rituals to act out her emotions and his, even rolling her eyes and widening them as she tells the story,” the expert observed.
James suggested that this animated storytelling style represents a significant shift from her previously more reserved public appearances.
She added that these “intrinsic, visible changes” in Kate’s body language indicate her illness has added “an extra dimension in terms of emotional signalling.”
This new approach marks a departure from traditional royal behaviour, with Kate showing a more personally felt connection with her audience.