Kate Middleton joined Camilla and Sophie to pay their respects at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. The three royals stood side by side on the balcony, with Kate in the middle. Express.co.uk spoke to body language expert Judi James about their positioning and the exchanges they had with one another.
Prince William, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward were seen laying wreaths at the memorial.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Cornwall and Countess of Wessex looked on from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building.
From left to right stood Camilla, Kate and then Sophie, and Judi James discussed this format.
“With the Queen sadly missing from the royal balcony this year there was a very intriguing and possibly significant re-shuffle of the royal wives, with Kate emerging looking very much like the highest-ranking woman in the group, not just by taking the central position between Camilla and Sophie but by her non-verbal signals as she stood in that spot,” the expert explained.
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“With Camilla next in line to the role of Queen [consort] it might have been expected for her to take that middle position between the two younger women.
“Even if there’s no actual protocol the non-verbal message is rather emphatic and by standing to one side like this it gives the impression that Kate is very much the Queen’s stand-in at this event.
“Kate’s height and her body language give her a very natural look of royal high status and the way she rotates to speak to Sophie and Camilla in turns adds to this impression of being female alpha in the group.
“Camilla appears satisfied with her role,” Judi continued.
“If she had wanted to draw rank here she might have adopted more of an active hosting pose, paying attention to the two younger women and using signals of confidence rather than waiting for Kate to look down to exchange a few words.
“Despite often showing her fun, playful side, Kate is recently managing the switch to a more elegant, dominant and even leadership presence with ease.
“There’s a sense of firmness and confident, natural authority growing in her body language as she moves quietly to the matriarchal role that the Queen has always held.
“Her pursed lips here suggest that inner firmness while her more emotional facial expressions during the tributes registered a very in-touch sense of empathy with the public,” Judi added.
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Buckingham Palace said: ”The Queen, having sprained her back, has decided this morning with great regret that she will not be able to attend today’s Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph.
“Her Majesty is disappointed that she will miss the service.
“As in previous years, a wreath will be laid on Her Majesty’s behalf by the Prince of Wales.
“His Royal Highness, along with the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra will be present at the Cenotaph today as planned.”
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