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The Royal Family projected ‘bonding and unity’ as they gathered at Westminster Abbey last night for the Princess of Wales‘ carol service after Harry and Meghan’s latest slew of attacks, body language expert Judi James said today.Â
Footage caught the moment King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla greeted Kate and William as they walked down the nave.
Ms James said the princess’s ‘warm smile of pride’ as she watched her children exchange kisses with the monarch ‘show everything we need to know about family unity’.Â
She said further clues came from ‘extra, add-on touches’ including ‘lingering smiles and eye contact’.Â
Judi James said the Princess of Wales keeping a hand on King Charles’ shoulder was a show of ‘intimate affection’Â
Referring to this moment, Ms James noted how Prince William and the King exchanged words which caused Charles to ‘throw a grin back at his son’Â
‘Charles’s cheek kiss with Kate is followed by a formal ritual of the bobbing curtesy but then we can also see Kate’s hand is still on Charles’s arm as her face turns towards Camilla,’ Ms James told MailOnline.Â
‘This shows extra fondness, while the ”double-bagging” of touching one relative while turning to greet the other, suggests a desire to reinforce the idea of grouping together and unity.
‘Camilla’s hand on top of Kate’s shoulder as they kiss is another display of more intimate affection and, like Kate did with Charles, Camilla’s hand is still on Kate’s torso as they turn, in another gesture of “grouping” to imply unity.’
Focusing on King Charles’ body language, Ms James said: ‘Charles is never a comfortable-looking grandad in public but he sweetly bends to kiss George and Charlotte and they both put their arms out for a truncated hug while Kate watches proudly.
‘Charles and William’s greeting looks a little more meaningful, with some words exchanged as Charles walks away that cause the King to throw a grin back at his son.
‘There is another gesture from Kate to show this desire to signal family grouping, bonding and unity as Charles walks back to speak to her.Â
‘She quickly transfers her bag from her left hand to her right so she can extend her arm in another truncated touch and hug ritual as he talks to her, lifting her arm to place it behind his.’Â
Footage caught the moment King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla greeted Kate and William as they walked down the nave
Ms James said: ‘Charles is never a comfortable-looking grandad in public but he sweetly bends to kiss George and Charlotte and they both put their arms out for a truncated hug while Kate watches proudly’
Poignantly, William read a passage from the late Queen’s 2012 Christmas message in which Her late Majesty said she was ‘always struck by the spirit of togetherness’ at Christmas.
It was a time, she had added, ‘when we remember that God sent his only son to serve, not to be served’. Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have said they will not comment on Harry and Meghan’s claims – with the King said to be determined never to watch the six-part series.
A royal source told the Daily Mirror: ‘Some astonishing claims have been made but the family are determined to stick together and maintain a dignified silence. They will not be dragged into a tit-for-tat row.’
While the palaces have refused to comment on the claims, sources have made clear that there is immense sadness and frustration about the Sussexes’ decision to yet again air family problems in public.
There was no suggestion that William intended the striking message to be contrasted with the example of his own brother, who turned on his family in yesterday’s Netflix series. Indeed it was planned long before the documentary.
The Princess of Wales arriving for the Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in central London last night
Kate chats to a little boy during her Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in central London
Singing from the same hymn sheet: (Front row left to right) King Charles III, the Queen Consort, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, the Princess of Wales and the Countess of Wessex during the ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey last night
George, William, Charlotte and Catherine depart the service to more cheers
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla were all smiles as they left the Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster AbbeyÂ
The Countess of Wessex Sophie leaving Kate’s Christmas carol service
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Together at Christmas Carol Service
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank arrive at Westminster Abbey in London. The couple are close to the Sussexes
Lady Frederick Windsor attends the Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. Spearheaded by Catherine, Princess of Wales, and supported by The Royal Foundation, this year’s carol service was dedicated to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
But it will have resonated with many of the 1,800 guests gathered in the Abbey for the concert, staged to recognise the ‘selfless efforts of individuals, families and communities across the UK, and celebrate and showcase the joy that human connection and togetherness can bring’.
Kensington Palace said the Together at Christmas carol service, the second concert Kate has hosted, was dedicated to the late Queen and the values she demonstrated throughout her life, including ‘duty, empathy, faith, service, kindness, compassion and support for others’.
The palace said these principles were ‘shared and personified by the inspirational guests who have been invited to the abbey in recognition of their tireless work to help and care for those around them’.
A Christmas tree was decorated with small Paddington Bear decorations, a nod to the late Queen’s famous comedy sketch, while guests were greeted with atmospheric snowflakes from a snow machine as they arrived at the entrance.
Kate met and thanked those taking part in the service, including Paddington star Hugh Bonneville and singer Melanie C.
The Waleses were coordinated, with the duchess earing a festive burgundy coat dress believed to be from London-based Eponine, paired with £14 drop ruby earrings from Accessorize and a matching shimmering clutch and gloves, and burgundy heels.
Charlotte, seven, wore a matching £160 burgundy coat from Trotters Heritage, while William donned a complementary shade of navy paired with a matching men’s dress coat and a tie in burgundy.
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, arrived not long after Kate and was soon joined by Princess Eugenie and Beatrice, who were with their husbands.
Eugenie was seen in the sixth episode of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix series visiting the family at their home in Montecito, California.
Also present was Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Princess Michael. She hit the headlines last week when Netflix revisited the moment she wore a Blackamoor brooch to a Christmas lunch that was attended by Meghan in 2017.
The service will be broadcast on ITV1 on Christmas Eve as part of a Royal Carols: Together At Christmas programme, narrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones and featuring an introduction by Kate.
Hours earlier, battle lines were drawn yesterday as Prince Harry accused his brother of ‘bullying’ him and Meghan out of the Royal Family.
In a brutal finale to the pair’s damning Netflix documentary series, he repeatedly attacked William and claimed to have been ‘terrified’ when he was ‘screamed and shouted’ at in a Sandringham showdown.
Harry said his brother authorised aides to brief against him and claimed their father Charles lied to his face at the same meeting. The Queen supposedly failed to intervene because her ‘ultimate mission’ was to protect ‘the institution’.
Harry, 38, suggested the elderly monarch was being manipulated by family members and courtiers for their own ends, thwarting his attempts to meet her to discuss his and Meghan’s plans to quit as working royals.Â
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace declined to comment last night, preferring to keep a dignified silence.
Harry’s grandmother the Queen said before her death that ‘recollections may vary’ when it comes to many of the claims from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Harry and Meghan’s final Netflix episodes cover their wedding, leaving the UK and building a new life in the US
Harry and Meghan said that the royals were upset they were ‘better’ at the job, accusing the Palace of briefing against them
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