King Charles is "forming up under potential attack" in a new royal portrait due to his "unusual" gesture to Queen Consort Camilla, a body language expert has claimed.
At the weekend, a smiling portrait was released showing Charles alongside his heir Prince William, the new Prince of Wales, and their wives Queen Consort Camilla and the new Princess of Wales, Kate. The snap was taken at Buckingham Palace just before Charles and Camilla hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for world leaders on the eve of the Queen’s funeral. In it, the new King, who usually avoids any public displays of affection, can be seen placing his arm around wife Camilla's back.
It comes amid rumours and reports that Prince Harry, who sensationally quit as a working royal with wife Meghan Markle in 2020, could be in line to criticise his father Charles and his stepmother Camilla in his upcoming memoir.
And according to body language expert Judi James, the way the royals line up for the snap, especially Charles and Camilla, look as though they are readying themselves for "attack".
She told the Mirror: "As any tribe or dynasty knows, a show of unity, continuity and strength is vital once it loses a leader.
"The royals are making exactly the right 'survival' statement here, following the death of the Queen.
"This looks like a forming up under potential attack, particularly from the direction of the US, and Charles' unusual PDA of placing an arm around Camilla's back, mirroring her arm round his, could be seen as a message in the same direction, as there have been rumours that Harry could have been critical of Camilla in his new book."
Meanwhile, Judi also notes the full lineup in the photo - and the statement made by including William and Kate in the snap.
She added: "Charles has included his direct heir and wife Kate in the line-up to signal the continuity, and the fact they are in one line of four, rather than with William and Kate placed slightly behind Charles, suggests a sense of 'I've got your back' teamwork.
"William's pose with his hands clasped in front of his torso, suggests a dutiful approach to his father, while Catherine places an arm around her husband’s back to signal ongoing support."
The photo comes as Charles and Camilla carrying out their first royal engagements as King and Queen Consort following the end of the royal mourning period.
They visited Dunfermline in Scotland, where Charles formally marked the conferral of its city status on Dunfermline and made a short speech.
After the ceremony, they visited Dunfermline Abbey to mark its 950th anniversary, and met with representatives from Historic Scotland to learn about the history of the local area and conservation of the site.
