It’s no secret that Kate Middleton has evolved into a role model ever since she joined the royal family. But how much has the 40-year-old changed?
We recently turned to body language expert Darren Stanton (on behalf of Slingo), who analyzed Middleton’s transformation over the years. He explained that when she first married Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge was “arguably more reserved” and dependent on her husband.
“She behaved in a similar way Princess Diana did when she first got engaged to Prince Charles,” Stanton told PureWow. “Kate would always stay very close to William and continuously look towards him to seek his approval and reassurance.”
The body language expert confirmed that Middleton’s recent outings prove that she’s becoming more independent. Stanton continued, “Now, it’s very clear that Kate is less reliant on William and even when out with him, she maintains a subtle distance from her husband—proving she is more than capable of holding her own.”
Stanton also noted Middleton’s hands. Although she used to place them in front of her, she has opened her posture, which is a symbol of confidence.
“Kate also used to position her hands in front of her—another self-reassuring gesture which signifies feelings of anxiousness,” he explained. “However, these days she is seen making what is known as open palm gestures instead—doing so signifies not only confidence, but openness, genuinity and honesty. The difference in how she holds her hands during engagements suggest that she has grown into the large shoes that come with being an established member of the royal family.”
*Sniff, sniff* Is that a future queen consort we smell?
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