New royal family portrait may resemble a 'hotel staff' pic, but it speaks volumes about new dynamic
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: A fresh portrait of the Royal family released by Buckingham Palace barely 10 days after the Queen's death has left the internet talking. The image had King Charles accompanied by Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince and Princess of Wales and many specifically questioned why Prince William never hugged his wife of more than 11 years.
However, as per body language expert and author Judi James, the image has a hidden message about Prince William's new role. James told Metro: "His splayed legs and the manner that his hands are clasped in front of his body constitute a position of attentive waiting." "It’s the kind of pose you see from staff in hotel lobbies and it could signal his role of support and stand-in for his dad. It looks dutiful and Catherine’s arm round his back suggests she is, in turn, there to support him," the expert added.
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On the other hand, the new monarch appears comfortable close to his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, with his right arm tucked around her waist. James emphasized that this was a "rare expression of public adoration" for the King. At the beginning of this year, there were rumors that Prince Harry's planned biography may feature new disclosures about his relationship with his stepmother. As a consequence of this, the specialist pointed out that the action that King Charles is performing in the photograph may be seen as "a show of both solidarity and affection." Meanwhile, Judy added, "A pose like this will suggest mutual support and resilience."
📸 Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort with Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 1, 2022
Taken at Buckingham Palace on 18th September by @ChrisJack_Getty . pic.twitter.com/heUi1C5E15
James also said that with a four-person line-up instead of just King Charles and Camilla, the image shows that the nation is "in safe hands for a least one more generation". She continued, "This portrait looks emphatic in terms of its messages of continuity and unity. There is finally a sense of peace after all the rifts and soap-opera dramas of the past few decades."
Meanwhile, a few fans of the royal family were quick to point out that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not included in the photo, despite the fact that they were present at the palace at the time the image was shot. However, others stated that the California-based pair do not deserve to be featured because they have stepped down from their responsibilities as senior royals in 2020.