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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Katie Weston

Secret to Queen Camilla's newfound confidence spotted in car after Coronation rehearsals

A relaxed-looking Camilla displayed a newfound confidence after attending a Coronation rehearsal at Westminster Abbey yesterday, a body language expert has said.

Three days before the occasion, the Queen Consort and King headed to the venue with William, Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The couple were greeted by the Dean of Westminster and shown inside the gothic church, where they will be crowned on Saturday in front of 2,300 guests and a global audience of millions.

Despite the daunting task ahead, Camilla appeared composed and laid back as she waved from a car while leaving the Abbey with some of her grandsons.

Behavioural expert Judi James told the Mirror: "Camilla is normally the royal exhibiting the most obvious signals of anxiety and nerves.

Camilla appeared composed and laid back while leaving with some of her grandsons (PA)

"But her relaxed smile and her royal wave from the car suggests she has risen above those previous feelings of tension and is prepping to enjoy the day.

"The secret to her newly-found confidence might be the young boys in the car with her.

"This will be a first royal outing for some of her grandsons and their excited facial expressions suggest they are seeing it as fun rather than fearful."

Judi also noted how George, Charlotte and Louis all seem ready for the event, putting it down to plenty of experience as the children grow up with many engagements.

Camilla is "prepping to enjoy the day", said Judi James (James Whatling)

She said: "William, George, Charlotte and Louis all seem to be flying in a very tight formation here, that is probably driven by levels of reliability, confidence and experience.

"Louis walks in first to keep his confidence and enjoyment levels high but close behind is the formidable-looking double act of William and George to keep a loving, watchful eye on the most playful member of the family.

"William and George are dressed identically again here and their body language looks mirrored, which does create a serious note for them.

"At the next coronation it will be George’s turn to support his father and the one after that will see George himself in lead role, making them both extra-aware of their destiny as they take a glimpse into their inevitable future.

Prince William entering the Abbey with George, Charlotte and Louis (James Whatling)

"Charlotte is walking behind her dad and her brothers and this seems to show how much her confidence has grown.

"At the Jubilee she was the one checking out the choreography and policing her brothers and the way she is sucking in her lips here suggests she will be taking that role very seriously again on Saturday."

Future king George, nine, has the duty of being one of his grandfather's pages of honour and is expected to be tasked with holding the train of Charles's regal robes.

William will kneel before his father and vow to be his "liege man of life and limb" in the only homage of royal blood of the ceremony.

King Charles leaving Westminster Abbey following the rehearsal (PA)

He will also help clothe the King in his golden robe royal, also known as the mantle, ahead of his crowning.

Louis, five, was spotted sat next to William in the back of a car as they left the rehearsal.

Also there were Camilla's grandsons, who will act as her pages of honour.

The King's sister, the Princess Royal, also attended after visiting soldiers from The Household Division at Wellington Barracks in the morning as they prepared for their roles in the military processions.

The rehearsal in central London came after a man was arrested when suspected shotgun cartridges were thrown into the grounds of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening.

Kate arriving at the rehearsal on Wednesday (James Whatling)

Security minister Tom Tugendhat said police and intelligence agencies are mounting a "very complex" security operation around the ceremony - with the eyes of the world set to be on the UK.

"The police are, to put it mildly, all over it and our intelligence and other security forces are extremely aware of the challenges that we face and ready to deal with them - as the police did quite brilliantly yesterday," he told Times Radio on Wednesday morning.

Mr Tugendhat said the Coronation is "an opportunity to showcase the United Kingdom to the world".

With last-minute preparations ramping up, early morning rehearsals were staged in the capital, revealing the first glimpses of the grandeur of the Coronation processions.

Prince Louis and William leaving the Abbey (PA)

Hundreds of soldiers, many on horseback, marched from Buckingham Palace past Trafalgar Square and Downing Street to Westminster Abbey shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

The diamond jubilee state coach and gold state coach travelled down The Mall as part of the dry-run for the full event.

Royal fans waited for more than three hours for the parade to make a return trip.

Crowds ran through St James' Park to find the best spots near the palace, with many trying to spot relatives in their military outfits.

Lambeth Palace later confirmed the Right Reverend Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, and the Bishop of Hereford, the Right Reverend Richard Jackson, will serve as Bishops Assistant to Camilla during the coronation service at Westminster Abbey.

Already announced are Charles' Bishops Assistant - the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler, and the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverend Michael Beasley.

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