How Kate Middleton has changed from ‘anxious guest needing to be rescued’ to ‘Queen in Waiting’

A body language expert has revealed how Kate Middleton’s calm and confident display at the Queen’s Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace was in stark contrast to her nervous appearance at her first state banquet in 2015.

Speaking to Femail, Judi James noted her open smile and relaxed hands marked the Duchess of Cambridge‘s growing ease with high importance royal functions, hinting at her role as future Queen.

Kate, 37, looked worlds away from her appearance in 2015, when she attended her first state banquet with the Queen’s guests Chinese president Xi Jinping and his glamorous wife Peng Liyuan, which saw her facial expression taunt and her wringing her hands. 

Last night’s dress was a more grand choice than her 2015 Jenny Packham red dress, which she wore with the Lotus Flower tiara once owned by the Queen Mother at the time and understated jewellery.

Additionally, Kate donned Princess Diana‘s pearl tiara  last night- the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara given to the late royal on her wedding day – along with a floor length navy velvet Alexander McQueen gown for the occasion, which she notably paired with dazzling diamond earrings and the Queen’s silver necklaces. 

Speaking to Femail, Judi said: ‘Because Kate’s body language is always immaculate it’s easy to imagine that little has changed over the years, but these two sets of images, taken from her first state banquet and then this latest one, prove there have been some dramatic changes in her body language tone and ‘mood music’ at identical events.

‘The first and her perhaps the most dramatic change is in her status signals. 

‘At the 2015 banquet Kate adopted the role of a rather anxious-looking guest. 

‘Last night though her signals put her firmly in a hosting role, making her appear not just like a future Queen, but almost as a current one. 

‘She greets guests comfortably, leaning out to them and engaging them in relaxed, animated-looking conversations, and her active listening signals, like her strong eye-engage; her one raised brow used as a tie-sign to signal humour and interest, and her symmetric, dimpled smile all suggest she has learnt the skills of the kind of royal charisma that the Queen herself excels in.

‘Her eye expression is markedly different. Photographed in 2015 her straighter brow line and her slightly downcast eyes make her look sad and a little isolated. 

‘Although she’s engaged in conversation in the most recent photos her eye expression even when she’s not chatting entails a slight narrowing and crinkling of the eye that shows confidence and sociability. 

‘At her first banquet her solo forward lean and the way she kept her upper arms held close to her torso hint at a lack of confidence and although she looked stunning in her tiara her careful posture suggested she was being very cautious about keeping it in place.

‘Last night though, Kate wore the combination of a tiara; sash; some rather heavy-looking drop earrings; a stunning but also huge necklace, and a medal as though born to it. 

‘Circulating without her normal prop of the signature clutch bag she touched her hands lightly in front of her torso, raising her elbows slightly to form the important ‘up-turned V’ gap under her armpits that is also a signal of confidence.’

Judi concluded: ‘In social event terms she has progressed from the role of the one that looks in need of ‘rescuing’ to the person that will act as ‘rescuer’: the host who projects the kind of contagious confidence that makes guests feel relaxed in her presence.’

And royal fans noted her more assertive display, with one writing: ‘Kate in all her glory! Tonight’s look is probably my all time favorite tiara look. I don’t know how to explain it but it’s very sleek, mature, and REGAL. She looks every inch the future Princess of Wales and Queen she is and I’m ALL here for it!’.

Another gushed: ‘Future queens of England’, while one noted: ‘She has really stepped it up this year. Very regal. Very mature. I imagine her role will continue to increase’.

Prince William is second in line to the throne, following his father Prince Charles. 

The Queen, 94, is the longest reigning British monarch to date, having reigned for 67 years. 

Her Majesty will turn 95 in 18 months – the same age at which her husband Philip withdrew from his public duties – and there is talk among courtiers that she may use the milestone to effectively hand over day-to-day control of the monarchy to Charles.