Princess Kate has made a subtle yet defiant gesture as the House of Windsor feud continues, with a body language expert picking up on the future queen’s role in the “game of royal chess”.
‘A game of royal chess’ is apparently afoot between Kate, pictured today, and her brother-in-law(Image: PA)
Princess Kate has made a subtle yet defiant gesture today as the House of Windsor feud continues, with a body language expert highlighting the future queen’s part in the ongoing “game of royal chess.”
The 43-year-old joined husband Prince William in Sunningdale for an engagement honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away three years ago today (September 9).
The couple’s visit to the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (WI) has inevitably overlapped with Prince Harry’s surprise visit to the UK, who is understood to still be virtually estranged from his older brother, the Mirror reports.
The Duke of Sussex arrived on British soil this morning ahead of the annual WellChild Awards, making his first stop at St George’s Chapel to pay his respects at his late grandmother’s graveside.
Kate’s last-minute appearance at today’s event with William is believed to be a calculated move, with body language expert Judi James suggesting that the mother of three may be seeking to “avoid being check-mated by the rogue royal.”
Speaking to the Mirror, Judi stated: “We’ve already seen Harry on a ring doorbell looking like a fan of the impromptu drop-in, and William’s outing to Sunningdale might have left one (future) queen alone and socially vulnerable if a request for afternoon tea was made.”
William and Kate together at the Women’s Institute in Sunningdale today (Image: AP)
“Kate and Harry used to be so close, and whereas a ‘Sorry I’m up in Sunningdale’ response might be neutral and polite enough, being at home, but turning him down could make Kate risk being made to look like the bad guy when Harry reports back to the US.
“There’s a huge difference between being unavailable and appearing to actively shun someone, and the movements of the royals today suggest they are very mindful of the dangers of the ‘Harry effect’ on their own image and popularity,” she explained.
Expanding on that, Judi continued: “Harry has many excuses to play the victim here if he so chooses, especially if it is made to look as though his close family members turned their backs on him while he was busy supporting his charities.
“There have already been headlines implying he would be keen for some sort of reunion, and if doors were being literally shut in his face, it could risk making the Firm look cruel and cold in the eyes of the rest of the world if the story was spun that way.
Harry is only a few short miles away from his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton today(Image: PA)
“So who can blame Kate if she preferred to keep out of the way? William’s emotions will clearly be complex as he mourns two people he loved in his life: his grandmother on the anniversary of her death and his brother, who also used to be his closest pal.
“Loyalty to his grandmother might well help to cancel out some of the sadness at the loss of a brother, but I doubt the proximity factor will make little difference apart from some awkwardness, and having Kate at his side, who ‘gets’ the entire tragic narrative, will most likely help,” Judi concluded.
Harry’s unexpected trip to the UK has left many wondering whether a meeting has been set up between the prince and his estranged father, King Charles – which would mark the first reunion since February 2024.
Harry has previously voiced his desire to reconcile with King Charles and the wider royal family, with speculation of a possible thawing arising back in early July when senior aides to both Charles and Harry were spotted at a meeting in London.
A US source has now said that a reunion between the two is highly likely, revealing: “It’s clear there is now a determination on both sides to make this happen. Nobody is pretending the wider family issues have been resolved, but this is about beginning with Charles and Harry. For the first time in a long time, there’s a genuine sense that reconciliation is within reach.”
They continued: “After 20 months apart, and with the King continuing his treatment, the feeling is that the time is right to take that step. This is not about grand gestures or set-piece meetings – it’s about a simple face-to-face conversation between a father and his son. The priority is privacy and dignity, but also ensuring the door stays open for further dialogue.”
As of now, neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussex team has confirmed that such a meeting is scheduled to take place.
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