The Duchess of Edinburgh’s gesture to King Charles during their time together at Ascot suggested “hints of concern”, a body language expert has claimed.
The Royal Family spent their week at Ascot for the annual races, watching from the Royal Enclosure.
Each day the King and Queen arrived with the Royal procession, joined by various members of their family.
On the second day of Ascot, King Charles was spotted laughing and enjoying his time with the Duchess.
But throughout their conversation, one body language reader claimed that there were suggestions that Sophie showed “concern” for the monarch.
Body language expert Judi James analysed the non-verbal communication between the pair.
She told The Daily Express that on at least five separate occasions Sophie seem to display body language that displayed “hints of concern and support”.
She explained: "Touching him on the arm to attract his attention looks like a rather gentle form of social dominance as well as affection.
"Proximity is also a strong signal. The pair stand close to suggest an in-depth conversation.
"Exclusivity also occurs. Camilla is close but not included in the conversation. An even stronger signal of exclusivity comes when Sophie appears to put her hand up in front of her mouth to whisper to Charles."
Judi continued and explained that mirroring is a sure sign of closeness, adding: "Sophie and Charles laugh in a similar way and enjoy the racing using mirrored rituals.
"Their changes of emotional state look synchronised too, Sophie clearly knows when to use active listening signals and gestures of concern and when to share a joke."
She added that their actions demonstrated a “closeness” between the pair and compared the bond to that Sophie shared with her late father-in-law, Prince Phillip.
But Judi claimed their style is “different”.
She said: "There are parallels here to the close relationship Sophie enjoyed with Charles’s father Prince Philip but Charles and Sophie’s body language here suggests a very different style of relationship bonding.
"Sophie tended to be playful but also slightly distanced from her father-in-law but with Charles here she looks tactile, warm and supportive.”
Judi James added that the senior royal women were seemingly creating a caring, empathetic group around the new King.
She added: "It was Kate placing an arm around him at the funeral and Zara raced to hug him here at Ascot."
