Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Jennifer Newton

Kate Middleton's 'swift head turn' as Camilla gives King Charles 'stern' talk, says expert

Kate Middleton decided to stay out of the royal drama on Saturday - according to experts.

The Princess of Wales was spotted making a swift head turn gesture from Queen Camilla as she gave King Charles a "stern pep talk" at his birthday parade, a body language expert has claimed.

On Saturday, pomp and pageantry were on display during the Trooping the Colour military spectacle where the most prestigious regiments in the British Army honoured the monarch by parading to mark his birthday.

READ MORE - 26 photos of Edinburgh clubbers in the 2000s - see if you recognise any faces

Charles rode in the parade on a horse called Noble, becoming the first monarch in more than 37 years to do so, reports the Mirror.

After riding from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, he then lined up alongside Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, who were also on horses, as well as Kate and Camilla, who watched proceedings from a dais.

At one point, Charles appeared to struggle with his excitable steed and according to body language expert Judi James, Camilla was on hand to try to provide support - although Kate stayed out of it.

She explained to the Mirror: "Trooping the Colour might have been slightly marred by the rather frisky horse that Charles seemed to be struggling with and which meant he rarely achieved the same kind of formal mounted pose that his son and siblings achieved riding behind him to the parade ground.

"While William and Edward sat bolt upright on their very calm horses, with right arms rigid at their sides, Charles frequently needed two hands on the reins and a series of pats that increased in intensity as his horse needed steering and correcting throughout the ride to the parade ground.

"The King seemed to be complaining again to Camilla once he arrived beside the rostrum where she was standing, meaning instead of offering a smile of pride and support her body language suggested she was giving a rather stern-looking pep-talk than involved frowning and some firm-looking head baton nods.

"Kate took one glance at the conversation and turned her head away, clearly not wanting to get involved."

Meanwhile, Judi also noted a change with Prince Louis but said he still remained his excitable self thanks to mum Kate.

She explained: "With Louis now dressed exactly like George, it is obvious that his behaviour is also getting more grown-up and less playful but there were several signs that, with the encouragement of Kate, he is still enjoying his royal events and getting excited by everything going on around him.

"He strode out first when he and his siblings walked from their carriage on the parade ground and when he was in the carriage he got a beam from Kate as he mimed drumming while the band played.

"On the balcony, he turned to chat to his parents but his enthusiasm for the Red Arrows was obvious from his impatience signal as he waited for them to arrive, rolling his hands into fists and punching them together.

"With this slimmed-down monarchy, there was more of a less formal, family feel to the balcony group. Camilla was chatting to Charles as they walked out and Charlotte had to squeeze out behind her grandfather, followed by an equally squeezing-through Kate.

"Sophie and Edward chatted to Charles and Camilla, with Sophie making her husband laugh as she mimed how close two of the planes had flown and Charles chatted frequently to William, with the pair showing signs of a new, more easy-going bonding."

READ NEXT:

A look inside Edinburgh's cheapest home on the market just outside Tynecastle

Spot yourself in the crowd as Hearts parade Scottish Cup in capital back in 1998

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.