King Charles and Prince William showed “pure joy in each other’s company” during a rare joint engagement, and neither seemed “overwhelmed by the thought of fights with Prince Harry”, a body language expert has claimed.
The 75-year-old monarch arrived by helicopter to meet his eldest son at a Hampshire airfield, where he handed over command of the Army Air Corps, the combat aviation arm of the British Army, to the Prince of Wales.
Her Majesty appointed her heir Colonel-in-Chief at a special ceremony at the Army Aviation Center in Middle Wallop this afternoon.
As father and son stood together in front of an Apache, they laughed and smiled showing mutual affection and playful appreciation, Judi James told MailOnline.
William appeared to be “proud and delighted” to see his cancer-stricken father at one point seemingly “rocking with laughter”, while their “energetic walk together” showed a “sense of ease and familiarity”.
King Charles and Prince William today showed “pure joy in each other’s company” in a rare joint engagement, according to body language expert Judi James.
Judi James said their ‘energetic walk’ (pictured) showed a ‘sense of ease and familiarity’, while they showed no tension over ‘any fight with Prince Harry’.
Father and son laughed as Charles presented William with an Army Air Corps beret and belt as the Prince of Wales faced off against his younger brother’s former unit, 662 Squadron, on the day Harry left Nigeria after a three-day pseudo-royal tour with his wife. Meghan.
Previously, Charles had appeared to show some “inner anxiety” by “reaching into his jacket pocket” while alone to make a short speech before unveiling a badge, James said.
“It was when Charles was with his son William that we received some gloriously open signs of mutual affection and playful appreciation.
‘This was not the body language of a king and his heir and, despite the importance of the moment, there was no solemnity or formality.
“What the two men showed us was pure father-son body language and this was almost the first time we were allowed a glimpse into the true nature of their relationship as it is today.”
Mrs James went on to say that when William was younger he was often seen “encouraging his father to pose for the press and trying to elicit a few smiles from his more reluctant father”.
He added: “In later years the pair would be seen chatting or standing together, but here they showed their capacity for mutual amusement and what seemed their pure joy in each other’s company.”
Judi went on to say that when William was younger he was often seen “encouraging his father to pose for the press and trying to elicit some smiles from his more reluctant father” (pictured celebrating the late Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee II in 2002).
He went on to say that “it was when Charles was with his son William that we received some gloriously open signs of mutual affection and playful appreciation.”
Judi says that “this was almost the first time we were allowed a glimpse into the true nature of their relationship as it stands today.”
Judi says Charles’ touching moment with a veteran who also received cancer treatment shows that he “has developed a new capacity for empathy, unfortunately thanks to his illness.”
William “seemed the most relaxed he had been since his wife Catherine’s cancer diagnosis”
Charles and William’s public display of affection comes a week after Harry’s spokesperson revealed that his father’s daily commitments meant he was “too busy” to see his youngest son during his trip to the UK.
Their public display of affection comes a week after Harry’s spokesperson revealed that his father’s diary commitments meant he was “too busy” to see his youngest son during his trip to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
But William and Charles showed no tension over the royal rift within the House of Windsor, Judi claimed, and the Prince of Wales, if anything, looked more relaxed than ever since his wife Catherine’s cancer diagnosis.
“William’s body language suggested an air of relief and almost loving delight at sharing the moment with his father after what must have been concerns about his illness that would also have had ramifications for his own role as a royal,” she continued.
“This is perhaps the most relaxed William has looked lately, also since Catherine’s illness. His approach here seems to be primarily that of son to his father and the fact that this is a family moment seems to be fixed there even above the granting and acceptance of the role.
“William seems confident and capable here and Charles’s playful approach seems to suggest that he knows his eldest son can handle this new role with ease and enthusiasm.
‘Neither of them seems overwhelmed by the thought of the consequences involving Harry; in fact, the word “unconscious” comes to mind when looking at these poses.
‘This behavior suggests an intensely affectionate relationship that has gained intensity in recent years and has now deepened through the shared experience of Charles and Catherine’s illnesses.
“They seem like two men focused on overcoming those illnesses while repairing the royal Signature and very little else.”
Charles shared a touching moment with another cancer patient at the ceremony where the monarch revealed he had lost his sense of taste during his treatment.
Her Majesty was speaking to British Army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck, who told the King that he underwent chemotherapy last year for testicular cancer and lost his sense of taste, and Charles revealed that this had also happened to him.
Ms James said Charles “has developed a new capacity for empathy, sadly thanks to his illness”.
“His body language with this veteran suggests greater levels of understanding and even emotional bonding as they converse,” he said.
“Now he can share experiences and his expressions and tone seem much more absorbed and even personal.”