Kate Middleton, 40, organised the “Together at Christmas” carol concert on Thursday and was filmed greeting her in-laws, King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort. The Princess of Wales curtseyed to the King and Queen Consort for the first time in public since Charles III has become the monarch.
The Princess, wearing a burgundy coat by Eponine London for the occasion, hosted her Christmas Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey for the second year running on Thursday.
The royals turned out in force to support Kate, including Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and Mike and Zara Tindall.
One short clip showed Kate kissing Charles and Camilla on both cheeks before bobbing into a curtsy, and also Queen Camilla hugging her step-grandchildren, Prince George, nine and Princess Charlotte, seven.
Prince William and King Charles could also be seen embracing in a tight hug and kissing each other on the cheek, which was especially poignant after Prince Harry’s explosive documentary that dropped on Netflix earlier that day.
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Judi James, a professional body language expert, analysed Kate’s curtsy to the King and Queen Consort, especially in comparison to Meghan Markle’s “comedy bowing” which she did in her Netflix documentary.
The Duchess of Sussex shared that when she first met Queen Elizabeth II, she had never curtsied before and ended up performing a theatrical bow, which she demonstrated on the Netflix series “Harry & Meghan”.
Judi claimed: “After Meghan’s comedy bowing during one of her lighter, more playful moments in the Netflix documentary it was down to Kate to show how it’s really done, with two small but significant bobs as she welcomes the King and Queen to her carol concert.
“We get a glimpse of the family unit again here with an exchange of greeting rituals. Charles looks so keen to dash across to Kate, who performs two cheek kisses, followed by a small bobbing curtsey.”
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While Meghan performed a “comedy bow” in the documentary, she did pick it up and has been seen curtsying similarly to Kate during previous public engagements.
According to Judi, the gestures of unity at the Carole service really helped show how close the family is.
She explained: “Then there is the prolonged gesture, where she continues to hold Charles’s arm as she turns to smile at Camilla.
“These add-on gestures acknowledge extra warmth and affection plus levels of closeness in a greeting ritual.
“There is a repeat of this signal of fondness when Charles walks back to chat quickly with Kate after his greetings.
King Charles looked like a proud grandfather at the “Together at Christmas” carol concert with his two eldest grandchildren.
Judi opined: “Charles has never been a comfortably tactile man in public but his kisses for the two children look sweet, with George returning the arm clutch and Charlotte throwing both hands out as her grandfather bends to kiss her.”
The Prince of Wales also greeted his father with warmth, according to the body language pro.
Judi suggested: “William and Charles’ greeting looks warm and there is a comment from William that seems to get a wry smile from his father.”
