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Beatrice and Eugenie’s True 'Emotions' During Charles’ Lunch Laid Bare By Expert

Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York attend a Coronation Big Lunch in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Ben Birchall - WPA Pool)
Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York attend a Coronation Big Lunch in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Ben Birchall - WPA Pool)
Dec. 18 2025, Published 03:35 AM. ET
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Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s surprise appearance at King Charles' pre-Christmas lunch has drawn significant attention as the sisters were seen arriving smiling and relaxed despite the challenging last few months. Their appearance at the gathering prompted renewed interest in how they are truly coping, with a body language expert suggesting that their expressions reflected genuine positivity rather than mere politeness. 

Image Source: Getty Images | Karwai Tang/WireImage
 Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York attend Royal Ascot Day 3 at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2018, in Ascot. (Image Source: Getty Images | Karwai Tang/WireImage)

The sisters were joined by Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other senior members of the royal family. It was their first public appearance with the family, as they skipped Middleton’s 'Together at Christmas' carol event earlier in December, and the family was also not invited to Beatrice's daughter Athena's christening last week.

Commenting on the pictures of Beatrice and Eugenie driving into the Palace together, royal expert Darren Stanton said, “These shots of them in the car are particularly strong, and for me the key theme that comes through is authenticity, that sense of genuine emotion rather than something being performed for the cameras. What we’re seeing is real happiness and genuine excitement about heading to the King’s pre-Christmas lunch.”

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend a Christmas Lunch for members of the Royal Family, hosted by King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend a Christmas Lunch for members of the Royal Family, hosted by King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

The expert believes Beatrice’s natural expressions depicted that she wasn’t trying to hide her feelings or put on a staged smile for the people, “Her face is visibly lit up – there’s an openness there. She’s maintaining her composure extremely well, and she does genuinely look happy. It doesn’t feel forced or staged in any way,” as he took a deeper look into her nonverbal cues. 

Stanton also shared his assessment of Middleton, who attended the event with the rest of the Wales family. As per Royal Insider, he said, “There are no signs from Kate, Beatrice, or Eugenie of what we’d call a masking smile – no tightness around the mouth, no disconnect between the upper and lower face, and no sense of a smile being ‘switched on’ just for the cameras.”

Princess Charlotte of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attend a Christmas Lunch for members of the Royal Family, hosted by King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
Princess Charlotte of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attend a Christmas Lunch for members of the royal family, hosted by King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

The expert continued, “Instead, the expressions are consistent and relaxed. The whole face is engaged with all of them. Their eyes are involved, and we can see the crow’s feet or laugh lines at the outer corners, which is a strong indicator of authenticity.” Stanton stressed that the images from the event showcased “real, unforced emotion and a genuine happiness about being there, rather than any kind of obligation or performance.”

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