Princess Beatrice’s Body Language Toward William and Kate Raises Eyebrows
Judi James says the royal’s smile and stance suggested underlying tension during the Sandringham walkabout.
During the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas Day walkabout at St Mary Magdalene Church, one moment may have hinted at deeper tensions inside the monarchy. According to body language expert Judi James, Princess Beatrice's behaviour at the gathering suggested a noticeable strain in her relationship with Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, James said Beatrice’s smile appeared forced rather than natural. “There is a type of smile known as a performed or applied rictus,” she explained, “that is a wide smile that appears effortful and not prompted by authentic pleasure.” She added, “Often the wider the smile, the more negative the emotions being masked, which could be why Beatrice's smile here, as she waits for the Waleses to go first, hints at what could be awkwardness or dislike.”
James also pointed out that Beatrice and her sister, Princess Eugenie, seemed to keep mostly to themselves during the walkabout rather than interact with William and Middleton. “She begins in something of a huddle with her sister, where the smiles could suggest some conversation through gritted teeth as they watch William, Kate, and the children take the lead,” James said. “The sisters seem to decide to shuffle off together to the left, where they stand beaming their smiles at the group in front in a watchful rather than sociable way.”
According to the analyst, Beatrice’s body language also suggested impatience. “Beatrice's glance down at the Waleses hints at some quiet impatience or discomfort at having to hang around dutifully and compliantly until they move on,” James noted. “There is no sign of any socialising between them here or any intent of catching Kate's eye to make the smiles more sociably friendly.”
The moment might have gone unnoticed at the time, but it has taken on new significance in light of recent developments involving the York sisters. Reports have since suggested that Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, will not appear in the Royal Box at Royal Ascot this June and will not join senior royals in the famous carriage procession. According to reports, the decision reportedly “blindsided” both sisters.
The news has also come at a difficult time for their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose long-running connection to convicted s*x offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a shadow over the York family.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes the future role of Beatrice and Eugenie could ultimately depend on William. “It may fall to William to make a decision on the future of Beatrice and Eugenie,” he told the Daily Mail. “Neither are reportedly particularly close to him or to Catherine.” He added that if further controversy involving Andrew emerges, “William and Catherine do not appear to have close ties with the sisters and would probably not miss them.”
However, Fitzwilliams also stressed that references to the sisters in documents connected to Epstein do not suggest wrongdoing. “There is obvious sympathy for the predicament of the sisters; mention in the files does not denote wrongdoing,” he said.
