Kate Middleton’s Body Language ‘Less Assured’ After Prince William Engagement — Expert
Kate Middleton’s a senior British royal with more than 10 years of experience. But she wasn’t always the Duchess of Cambridge. Before officially joining the royal family, particularly following her engagement to Prince William, she exhibited “less assured” behavior, according to a body language expert.
The royal family announced William and Kate’s engagement in November 2010
After meeting in college while attending Scotland’s University of St. Andrews, William and Kate started dating. Following a brief split, the pair were back together. Their relationship status changed once again in November 2010 when the royal family announced Kate and William’s engagement.
The Duke of Cambridge proposed in Kenya where he and Kate were vacationing in October 2010. He later revealed he had a simple plan behind the proposal. William knew he wanted it to be natural. So he popped the question at a cabin in Africa, a place that has a special meaning to him.
An expert says Kate’s lip bite suggested a lack of confidence
Expert Darren Stanton told Express Kate’s habit of biting her lip following her engagement to William suggested she was adjusting to her new life. He added she’d been “nervous around other members of the royal family in the early stages of her relationship” with William.
Adjusting to her new role was a “gradual process.” These days, while Stanton says Kate appears “super confident,” that wasn’t always the case.
“Although she now appears super confident both with and without William by her side while attending events, there were times previously where she exhibited signs of introversion and lacked the confidence she now has,” he said of Kate.
“For instance, in the early days of her engagement to William, Kate would bite her lower lip – a gesture children usually make and often carry into adulthood,” he explained. “It’s known in psychology as a self-reassurance gesture and it’s something a person does when they are feeling less assured in a given situation.”
Following Kate and William’s engagement announcement, the heightened attention surrounding their relationship, in addition to her new role in the royal family, could very well have made the Duchess of Cambridge uneasy. After all, there are strange etiquette rules, style guidelines, and royal protocol to remember.
Kate’s confidence has grown over the years
At one time Kate may have been biting her lip because she felt less assured. Today she’s a confident senior royal and future queen consort.
“Kate has displayed a quiet yet growing confidence,” Stanton said. “She shows a will to remain true to tradition while still being very much herself.”
From her hand gestures to the powerful messages in her official birthday portraits, Kate’s come a long way. She exudes confidence during official engagements and on royal tours. And on some occasions, she even breaks royal protocol. During a November 2021 museum visit, Kate removed her coat indoors. Some royal commentators described it a subtle power move.
