A reassuring hand on his back, a lingering gaze, or even a light hand hold.
Kate, Princess of Wales, is gradually lowering her guard and allowing the public to see more of the tender side of her relationship with Prince William, according to an expert.
This comes as she makes her gradual transition back into public life after her cancer treatment.
Earlier this month Kate spoke candidly about the life-changing long-term challenges of recovering after chemotherapy while she visited a hospital in Essex.
She said that during treatment, ‘you put on a sort of brave face’ but afterwards it can still feel ‘really difficult’.
She told patients at the hospital about life after cancer treatment: ‘You’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.’
It was Kate’s first public engagement since pulling out of an appearance at Royal Ascot, when it was said she needed to find the right balance in her return to work.
Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline: ‘There has been a very comprehensive and delightful switch-up in William and Kate’s body language together as a loving couple since Kate’s illness.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured in the town of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull in April 2025
At the couple’s most recent surprise appearance at Wimbledon, Judi said Kate was in full ‘Gone with the Wind’ mode
Kate, Princess of Wales, is gradually lowering her guard and allowing the public to see more of the tender side of her relationship with Prince William, according to an expert
‘Rather than see it as a sign that their relationship has intensified or changed, I would read from the ease and congruence of their behaviours together.’
She said the Waleses have made a ‘conscious decision’ to finally reveal glimpses of a romantic side which have been there all along but were ‘masked due to their adherence to ancient royal protocols’ and William’s ‘understandable wariness’ about showing or over-sharing too much.
Judi added: ‘When Charles took over the throne there seems to have been much less rigid adherence to protocol than there was during the late Queen’s reign and this might also have had an effect on William and Kate’s newly plumbed sense of emotional freedom.’
At the couple’s most recent surprise appearance at Wimbledon, Kate’s body language clearly showed her affection for William.
Judi said: ‘At Wimbledon Kate was in full Gone with the Wind mode with her romantic wide-brimmed hat and her fan.
‘Her body language went full romantic novel mode too as William stood looking down at her in his dashing blazer and celebrity shades.
‘Kate bares her neck fully here in a flirt signal of trust and submission as she smiles up at William’s face.
‘There’s even a hint of an old-fashioned, Southern Belle smitten gesture here, with her splayed hand being placed close to her upper chest.’
The royal couple shared this photo taken on social media to mark their 14th wedding anniversary during an official visit to the Isle of Mull in Scotland
Speaking of the Princess’ update video on her chemotherapy treatment in September 2024, Judi said: ‘You could almost hear a cork coming out of a bottle in terms of finally allowing the world to see the depth of their love’
Speaking of the Princess’ update video on her chemotherapy treatment in September 2024, Judi said: ‘You could almost hear a cork coming out of a bottle in terms of finally allowing the world to see the depth of their love.
‘Some of the scenes and their poses together were show-stopping, like the way they were lying together curled up like squirrels or sitting together with Kate hugging William as though never wanting to let him go.
‘When there is a change in emotions there will be a change in the body language but the rituals or touch, expression and embrace will tend to be initially lacking in subliminal synchronicity.
‘But here we saw a totally synchronized couple, looking so much more relaxed and natural away from the more hands-off and formal behaviours of their royal appearances.
‘It was interesting to see if this video was just a brief, telling treat for the fans and a glimpse of their love and if the cork would then be placed firmly back into the bottle again, but happily William and Kate seemed to see it as a successful experiment or toe in the water.
‘Since then their body language together has shown a similar theme of romantic affection with a much less guarded William clearly happy and delighted to share his feelings for his wife with the rest of the world.’
Following this, Kate made one of her formal appearances at the Trooping the Colour this year.
Judi wrote: ‘William’s air of relaxation and pride at having his wife at his side again was visible in his rounded cheek-smile and his lip suppressions that suggested he would happily have been grinning ear to ear.
Body language expert Judi James said: ‘Their body language together has shown a similar theme of romantic affection with William clearly delighted to share his feelings with the world’
Kate made one of her formal appearances at the Trooping the Colour this year
On X, the Waleses shared a video of them holding hands in Pontypridd, Wales
‘Kate’s big “tell” came with glances like this at her husband.
‘Her face-gazing prompts a mirrored smile reaction and an undeniable look of love.
‘One touching theme since her illness has been how Kate’s expressions of pride and support for her husband.
‘Her regular back-touches and strokes suggest that she has been his comforter and supporter through her illness as much as he has hers.
‘She almost seems to be showing that she’s back to take care of him again.’
Perhaps most surprising was a video the Waleses shared on X showing them sweetly holding hands as they walked through a train station in Pontypridd.
Judi said: ‘This might not be an unusual ritual for a married couple but it’s a gesture they have often seemed to be at great pains to avoid previously, probably because of unwritten protocol.
‘It is said to be how they walk together normally when they are off-camera, but the hand holding in public is another new ‘reveal’ for them.
The Prince and Princess of Wales smile at each other during a visit to Pontypridd Market
William and Kate are pictured during the formal welcome at the Royal Dais on July 8, 2025, in Windsor
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for the State Banquet for President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, on day one of the French President’s state visit to the UK in July
‘Kate’s look of love with William now gets a reciprocal response every time.
‘She used to throw it occasionally, often to help him smile while on tours and visits, but now it is more often a private look of mutual affection shown in public.’
She added: ‘Even during the very formal State visit recently the couple walked together looking as flirty as teens on a date.
‘William almost seems to be blushing here as Kate beams a dimpled smile in his direction.’
After 20 years of dating, it seems the Prince and Princess of Wales are just as in love as they were during their St Andrews days.
Only now they are becoming more comfortable showing their affection in public, supporting each other as Kate makes her gradual return to the spotlight.
