Prince William is celebrating his 40th birthday today, as he is embracing his role as a future King thanks to his wife Kate Middleton.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are reportedly having a joint 40th birthday party after her own party plans were cancelled due to high Covid rates. Over the years, the Prince has transformed from a camera shy young boy to a confident and headstrong future king, and wife Kate is certainly to thank for giving him a confidence boost.
Body language expert Darren Stanton analyses how Prince William’s body language and behaviour has changed over the years as the Royal turns 40. Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, he reveals how William is now ‘embracing’ his role as future King and the huge influence his marriage to Kate Middleton has had on him.
Darren reveals: “As young children both William and Harry were quite introverted and did not appear that confident. When William grew into adolescence, he developed a number of peronality traits reminiscent of his father Prince Charles - they say we are a reflection of the people around us, they influence our values and beliefs and in the case of William, this is very true.
“In earlier photos of William during public engagements, we see him displaying self-reassurance behaviours and lacking slightly in confidence. We self-reassure ourselves by touching the face, folding both arms or even picking at sleeves on a jacket as a way of deflecting our attention away from the person or situation in front of us that is causing concern or anxiety - doing so gives us psychological breathing space to retreat for a moment.
“William has been seen adopting a certain posture that his brother Prince Harry has become known for - placing the flat of your hand inside your jacket. It’s a very reassuring gesture when feeling anxious or uneasy and at times William has displayed this.
Another tell-tale sign of William’s to show he is uncomfortable is the Royal playing with the button on his jackets or touching his cufflinks.”
Kate and William wed in April 2011 and have three children together, as royal fans love their incredible bond and family first mind-set. Darren adds that a lot of William's strength and king-like qualities come from his wife.
He adds: “However, over recent years William has really developed as a senior Royal, as an empath and as a communicator, and part of that is thanks to his marriage to Kate Middleton.
“Kate has had a lot to do with building William’s confidence, especially during Royal engagements and meeting other civil dignitaries. Of course, becoming a father has given William a great deal of inner peace and tranquillity and boosted his confidence in himself.
“We no longer tend to see the jacket gesture so much these days and playing with his cufflinks has become a rare occurrence, suggesting that William has developed within his own skin and has become very much more comfortable in his future role as King.
“His willingness to engage in public displays of affection with Kate and his happiness while doing so has become even more prevalent in the last few years. Attending premieres, such as the James Bond premiere or recent Top Gun premiere with Tom Cruise, William has quite openly kissed Kate and held her hand.
"During exchanges, the couple have been seen intimately placing their hands on one another’s or holding hands when they are simply sat down. This shows that the couple are very much in love and Kate plays a central figure in William’s life.”
Darren believes that Kate's confidence in her royal role helps him embrace his future as King. William is currently second in line to the throne after his father Prince Charles.
“Kate, herself, is quietly confident and she is happy to attend events on her own without William as much as she is alongside him," says Darren. "She’s built her relationships with other members of the senior Royal family and her willingness when it comes to her Royal duties appears to have had a big influence on the way that William now thinks.
“William’s body language now shows signs of openness, integrity, honesty and a desire to connect with all of those he comes into contact with, whether it’s Royalty, a public figure, politician or member of the public - a trait his mother Diana was known for and one Kate has continuously shown. Not only have we seen his character evolve and mature, but William is now embracing the fact that one day soon he will be King.”
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