It has been suggested that Princess Anne had a "firm" look on her face as she watched her ex husband Mark Philips give his daughter away at her wedding - but experts have now shed some light on this look.
The Princess Royal proudly watched Captain Mark walk his daughter Stephanie, 24, down the aisle as she married William Hosier on Saturday at St Mary The Virgin Church in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
Body language expert Judi James says there has been speculation that Anne was throwing a ‘firm’ look at her granddaughter while Zara walked her but with Anne a warm smile and a glance of disapproval can look very similar.
Judi told the Mirror: "Most royal weddings come with some tension or dramas and this one could have had all the ingredients for at the very least some gritted teeth and pasted-on smiles.
"So many of the guests had ‘ex’ status that the day could have thrown up some awkward body language, but in reality the poses signal nothing but warmth, affection and rather high degrees of relaxation and happiness, suggesting the ‘we’re still the best of friends’ mantra really does apply when it comes to Anne and her ex’s family and even her son Peter and his ex Autumn.
"It’s been clear for years that Anne and her ex Mark Philips have managed a happy friendship despite their divorce.
"Anne often looks exceptionally animated and jolly in his company and she seems to have passed that skill down to her son Peter, who has gone out of his way to put in some animated and fun-looking outings with his ex Autumn."
The wedding also saw Peter Phillips joined by his new girlfriend Lindsay Wallace. She was last seen joining the royals at the Platinum Jubilee.
Judi added: "His current partner Lindsay also looks beautifully integrated into his family unit with his girls.
"It’s Lindsay taking the selfie of them all here, leaning in confidently to suggest some genuine bonding while Peter cuddles his girls close.
"Both daughters look happy to pose for the selfie, beaming at the camera that Lindsay is holding."
Stephanie is the daughter of Captain Phillips and his second wife Sandy Pflueger, who represented the US at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Any tension between the Princess Royal, 71, and her ex-husband Mark - who divorced the Queen’s daughter in 1992 - was not shown as they watched ceremony.
Also attending the wedding were her half-siblings Zara and Peter Phillips, and their partners Mike Tindall and Lindsay Wallace.
Zara came close to upstaging her half-sibling yesterday as she wore a stunning blue mini dress for the happy occasion.
The outfit was a Zimmermann design known as the Super Eight Embroidered Mini Dress in Cornflower Blue made in Broderie Anglaise.
Zara paired the dress with a matching fascinator.
Like her mum and elder sister Zara, Stephanie is known as a keen event rider.
