A body language expert revealed how Kate stepped up at Prince Philip’s funeral (Image: Getty)
It’s been nearly five years since the Royal Family laid the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, to rest. The funeral, which took place on April 17, 2021, was a smaller, ceremonial royal funeral held at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The service was also the first time Prince Harry would have returned to the UK and reunited with his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, following his and wife Meghan Markle‘s explosive Oprah interview.
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Despite the obvious cracks within the firm, a body language expert has revealed that Kate stepped up to support the family, highlighting unity during the devastating occasion.
Judi James explained that when a leader leaves a group, another must “step up quickly and help fill the void”.
She told the Daily Mail: “In the Royal Family that pecking order is driven by the order of succession, but like any other family they have a more natural power ranking as well as the anointed, titular one.
“Although Philip married into the Firm, he became a strong, paternal alpha presence and his death created a leadership gap.
The two princes’ appeared distant at the funeral of their grandfather (Image: Getty)
“The Queen was in deep mourning, and an equally distraught Charles appeared to watch helplessly as his two sons engaged in a civil war that threatened to drive a rift through the entire Royal Family.
“It was at Philip’s funeral though when Kate’s body language and behaviour suddenly, quietly but dramatically showed a switch–up that hinted at a breakthrough tendency”
The expert further explained that Kate had “firmness and courage to step up” amid the sorrow, while offering a “consoling and supportive hug to the weeping Charles before setting off solo to herd William and Harry together like a royal sheepdog herding two anxious and dithering sheep.”
Ms James also highlighted signs of “acute awkwardness and anxiety” from both William and Harry, which she said were the complete opposite of how Kate carried herself throughout the occasion, whilst creating some sort of unity between the brothers who appeared to be distant from each other.
The Princess of Wales left her husband to walk ahead, while she used “some friendly–looking words to firmly steer him into place beside William”.
Ms James added that “had Kate not intervened and taken firm charge”, the two would have been walking apart, and that the particular move “would probably have pleased and amused the two princes’ late grandfather”.