5 Times Princess Kate's Face Gave Away What She Thought About Her Family

Princess Kate is the epitome of poise and grace. However, there have been times when her face gave a lot away. Whether she is reacting to Prince William, her children, or other members of the royal family, here are 5 occasions when Kate's expressions revealed how she was truly feeling.

Prince Louis made himself the center of attention during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee Pageant in 2022. The young royal covered his mother's mouth, pulled faces, and looked like he was ready to be anywhere but the royal box. Kate tried to keep her composure as she dealt with her son's antics in front of the cameras. Body language expert Darren Stanton later pointed out to Marie Claire, “Kate made sure to respond in a calm and reassuring manner… [She] has a few gestures that tell the children enough is enough, like holding out her hands to encourage Louis to stop.” Despite her outward patience, her widening eyes and shifting expressions gave away her frustrations that parents everywhere would relate to.

The 2020 Commonwealth Day Service was an especially awkward occasion for Kate, William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. It was the last official engagement the Sussexes attended as working royals, with the two couples making one of their final public appearances together. However, Kate's reaction during the service appeared to catch the attention of royal watchers, including body language expert Blanca Cobb. Speaking to Us Weekly, Cobb said Kate had “zero acknowledgement” when taking her seat and that there was “absolutely no smile on her face.” She added, “Meghan and Harry were smiling at Kate and William, but even when Kate turns around to sit down, there’s absolutely no smile on her face — none.”

Both royal couples appeared to put their differences aside after Queen Elizabeth's death, coming together for a surprise walkabout outside Windsor Castle in September 2022. The brief reunion still did not necessarily mean that everything was suddenly forgotten. Body language expert Judi James noticed something particularly telling in the way Kate and Harry interacted. She told Express, “It is William who beckons his wife to join the group for a photo, and when she does, the real interest might be the lack of eye contact or engagement between her and Harry. Kate and Harry had always been very close, even when Harry and William were at loggerheads, so this looks even sadder than anything between Kate and Meghan.”

Kate found herself in an awkward moment with Queen Camilla during Donald and Melania Trump's state visit to the UK in 2025. Kate had been chatting with the First Lady when Camilla approached and made a quick hand gesture that appeared to tell her to step aside. Body language expert Judi James later described the hand movement as Camilla seemingly trying to “shoo Kate away.” James suggested that Camilla appeared to feel “slightly left out” of the conversation. “Kate's energy and her enthusiastic gesticulation seemed to tune with Melania, who turned her head away from Camilla to talk, using some subtly mirrored responses,” the expert explained to the Daily Mail. Richard Fitzwilliams also added, “It certainly looks as though Catherine is moving away because of The Queen's gesture.” In response, Kate is seen walking away and joining William, who stood a few feet away.

The 2023 Coronation came with some behind-the-scenes tension. As Charles and Camilla left Westminster Abbey, Kate and William appeared to remain still rather than bowing or curtsying to Camilla. Royal biographer Tom Bower later claimed on Dan Wootton Tonight (via Woman & Home) that Kate was unhappy over the Coronation guest list. According to the author, Kate was particularly annoyed that her siblings, Pippa and James Middleton, could not bring their partners while Camilla was allowed to have several members of her own family there. He said, “If you look at the coronation footage, as the King and Queen leave the thrones and head for the exit of Westminster Abbey, you’ll see that everyone bows and curtsies to the King and no one moves a limb, a muscle, when Camilla passes.”