Spectators were delighted to see Kate Middleton make a church service appearance in Sandringham this Christmas Day - especially given the turbulent year she's endured health-wise.
That said, however, one human behaviour expert believes she's picked up on some cues that the Princess of Wales gave off on the 25th, which she says hint at how she's currently feeling about husband Prince William.
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Kate and William were joined by their three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - on Wednesday, as well as several other high-profile members of the monarchy.
As per tradition, the group - which also consisted of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex and their children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their children - were led by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The family conducted their annual walk to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, where they were met by members of the public, many of whom gifted the Wales' with flowers, gifts and chocolates.
One individual looking closely at the royal festivities this year, however, was body language expert Judi James, who claimed to have kept an eye on Princess Kate throughout the duration of the church visit, following her battle with cancer earlier this year.
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Speaking to the Mail, Judi believes Kate gave off an air of 'tiredness' upon her initial arrival, describing the mother-of-three as having exhibited a 'moment of concern', likely still daunted by public appearance, after revealing the news of her diagnosis in March.
As the morning went on, however, Judi noted several glimpses between William and Kate, claiming the future king ceaselessly showed her his support during what would likely have been a very high-intensity day.
"She looked across at William and they exchanged a glance that came with an ignited smile," she told the news outlet.
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"Meaning her expression responded to his grin with an instant and wide smile of her own."
Judi added that Kate's smile was 'perhaps the biggest body language cue of the current relationship' between the married couple.
"His strongest moment of support here came at a distance then, but it was a powerful tie-sign between them nevertheless and with that response smile in place, Kate went out to greet the fans looking genuinely happy and touched."
William previously described 2024 as the 'hardest year of my life', touching on the cancer battles having been endured by both Kate and his father.
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"Honestly, it’s been dreadful," Sky News reported he'd said. "So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.
"But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done."
And announcing the conclusion of her chemotherapy back in February, Kate described 'the last nine months' as having been 'incredibly tough for us as a family,' adding that the 'cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.'
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That said, however, Judi noted that the Wales' appeared to exhibit a 'strong desire to create a happy and worry-free Christmas day for their three children', which - by the smiles on the royal children's faces - they've managed to achieve.
"We've seen William having to be more hands-off with Kate, taking his usual family spot of being along the other end of the line and watching on Christmas Day as Kate became consumed by the crowds who were all waiting to offer her hugs of their own," she explained.
"His smiles would be a given as the late Queen's legacy is all about stoicism, although there was a glimpse of some edge-to-edge teeth behind his lips that hinted at inner tension, even though he knew that Sophie and even the very dashing and experienced Jonny Thompson were close by Kate all through her Christmas outings and keeping the most caring of eyes on her."
Topics: Prince William, Kate Middleton, Royal Family, UK News, Christmas
Rhianna Benson