The King and his heirs displayed different body language, according to an expert. Body language guru Inbaal Honigman said King Charles appeared “natural and calm” with a personal approach to Remembrance Sunday.
It comes as the Princess of Wales watched the event from a government building balcony overlooking the Cenotaph in her second public appearance of the weekend. It is the first time she has attended public appearances on two consecutive days since her cancer diagnosis.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, Inbaal said: “The King and his heir demonstrate very different body language styles while they lay their wreaths. First King Charles advances with his wreath. He holds the floral arrangement with a neutral, semi-open hand, and his other hand also holds no tension. This tells us that the King takes a very personal approach to the occasion.
“He’s not performing a service or a duty – he’s at ease, as if he’d choose to be there, honouring the fallen. The King walks at a natural pace, his face is attentive, eyebrows slightly raised and mouth pulled slightly down, he is showing sadness.
(Image: Getty Images)
“King Charles carries out his salute in a natural, calm way, there’s no tension in his raised hand or shoulder. This shows that it’s not an obligation for him to attend and lead the ceremony.”
The Princess of Wales joined King Charles to honour the fallen, after a year in which they both revealed they had been diagnosed with cancer. A two-minute silence was led by the king, who was the first to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph. The queen did not attend as she was recovering from a chest infection.
Eight former prime ministers took part in commemorations in central London, along with Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch, who laid a wreath for the first time.
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
About 10,000 veterans marched past the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations for the Royal British Legion, the charity behind the annual poppy appeal.
This year coincides with the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings and the commemorations had a particular focus on remembering the sacrifices of those who took part.
Just 11 world war two veterans are understood to have attended events at the Cenotaph this year. Among them was Christian Lamb, 104, who mapped the Normandy beaches for D-day troops and was awarded France’s highest honour this year for her work from an office in Whitehall.
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