A confident Prince Louis showed no signs of shyness or fear on his first day of school, a body language expert has claimed.
The four-year-old was decked out in his brand new school uniform as he entered Lambrook School in Berkshire with Prince George and Princess Charlotte - accompanied by their parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The family strolled in a line, with Kate holding George and Louis' hands and Prince William holding Charlotte's, to meet headmaster Jonathan Perry. William called his children "all the gang" as he ushered them up the steps of the large white 19th-century country mansion, and said the three of them were looking forward to starting.
And according to body language expert Judi James, it was easy to see from the body language that it was Louis "vying to be leader".
She told the Mirror: "Louis might be the youngest sibling but he looks determined to set the tone for the group with this display of confidence, bravery and determination.
"Spurning the offer of his dad's hand he sets off with the kind of arm swing you normally only see on parade grounds and his eye gaze remains fixed ahead, rather than looking up to check his parents in any gesture of a need for reassurance.
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"He stands bolt upright in front of the head and after shaking hands he’s happy to keep the eye contact going with the head, showing no signs of shyness or fear.
"He's the first up the steps into the school and it’s only George’s longer legs than allow him to lap his small brother, who clearly can't wait to get inside and stuck into his class work and fun."
When it comes to the older children George and Charlotte, Judi believes they looked a tad more apprehensive than their younger brother.
She added: "George is now looking super-primed for the formalities of his royal role as we can see him extend his hand for the handshake before the ritual is prompted by the Head.
"He is now casting what looks like a protective gaze over his younger brother and sister although his leg swing suggests he might actually need to catch some of Louis’' confidence.
"Charlotte walks holding her dad's hand and some hand-tugging between them suggests an ongoing silent conversation as they walk up the drive.
"It's Charlotte showing the shyness signals here, touching her hair in that gesture that sweetly mirrors her mother and getting a fond stroke on the back of her hair to nudge her into her handshake with the Head."
Meanwhile, when it comes to William and Kate, they both look on proudly and confidently at their three children, says Judi.
She explained: "William's chatting and smiling suggests he’s on hand to motivate his 'gang' if needed but it looks here as though they are quickly out-growing any need of reassurance and support.
"As a result his smile is a suppressed one, with some puckering of the muscles of the cheeks and lips, to signal utter pride in his family line-up.
"There's very little, if any, signs of fussing or anxiety from Kate here, with her wide smile and elegant posture suggesting she has increased personal confidence in her children’s levels of confidence."
It was the first time all three siblings have attended school together, with Louis starting his education in pre-prep and his older siblings joining the prep as new starters.
The family have settled into their new home down the road at Adelaide Cottage ready for the start of the school year and to be closer to the Queen who now lives permanently at Windsor Castle.
