King Charles and Prince William showed ‘pure joy in each other’s company’ during a rare joint engagement, with neither appearing ‘weighed down by the thought of arguing with Prince Harry’, a body language expert has claimed.
The 75-year-old monarch arrived by helicopter to meet his eldest son at an airfield in Hampshire, where he handed over command of the Army Air Corps – the combat aviation branch of the British military – to the Prince of Wales.
His Majesty appointed his heir as Colonel 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 “proud and delighted” as he watched his cancer-stricken father seemingly “rock with laughter” at one point, as their “energetic walk together” showed a “sense of ease and familiarity.”
King Charles and Prince William showed ‘pure joy in each other’s company’ today during a rare joint engagement, according to body language expert Judi James
Judi James said their ‘energetic walk together’ (pictured) showed a ‘sense of ease and familiarity’, while showing no tension from ‘any fallout with Prince Harry’
Father and son laughed as Charles presented William with an Army Air Corps beret and belt as the Prince of Wales took on his younger brother’s former unit, the 662 Squadron, on the day Harry left Nigeria after a three-day pseudo -royal tour with his wife Meghan.
Charles previously appeared to show some “internal anxiety” by “putting his hand in the pocket of his jacket” as he stood alone to make a small speech before unveiling a plaque, Ms James said.
‘As Charles stood with his son William, however, we received some gloriously open signals 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 they treated us to a glimpse of the true nature of their relationship as it stands today.”
Mrs. James went on to say that when he was younger, William would often “urge his father to pose for the press and try to elicit a smile from his more reluctant father.”
She added: ‘In later years you would see the pair chatting or standing together, but here they showed their capacity for mutual pleasure and what seemed like their sheer joy in each other’s company.’
Judi went on to say that when he was younger, William would often ‘urge his father to pose for the press and try to elicit a smile from his more reluctant father’ (pictured here on the occasion of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 ).
She continued that ‘it was as Charles stood with his son William that we received some gloriously open signals of mutual affection and playful appreciation’
Judi says: ‘This was almost the first time they treated us to a glimpse into the true nature of their relationship as it stands now’
Judi says Charles’ touching moment with veteran who has also undergone cancer treatment shows he has ‘developed a new capacity for empathy, unfortunately thanks to his illness’
William ‘appeared to look the most relaxed since his wife Catherine’s cancer diagnosis’
Charles and William’s public display of affection comes a week after Harry’s spokesman revealed his father’s diary commitments meant he was ‘too busy’ to see his youngest son during his whistle-stop trip to Britain
Their public display of affection comes a week after Harry’s spokesman revealed his father’s diary commitments meant he was ‘too busy’ to see his youngest son during his whistlestop trip to Britain to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.
But William and Charles showed no signs of tension amid the royal rift within the House of Windsor, Judi claimed, with the Prince of Wales certainly looking the most relaxed since his wife Catherine’s cancer diagnosis.
“William’s body language suggested an atmosphere of almost loving relief and joy in sharing the moment with his father after what must have been concerns about his illness, which would also have affected his own role as a royal,” she continued.
‘This may be the most relaxed William has seen in recent times, including since Catherine’s illness. His focus here seems to be primarily as a son to his father and the fact that this is a family moment seems to be pinned on that even more highly than the gifting and acceptance of the role.
‘William looks confident and capable here and Charles’s playful approach seems to suggest he knows his eldest son can handle this new role with ease and sharpness.
‘Neither man seems bothered by the thought of consequences involving Harry, in fact the word ‘unconscious’ comes to mind when I look at these attitudes.
‘This behavior indicates an intensely loving relationship that has grown in intensity over recent years and has now deepened through the shared experience of Charles and Catherine’s illnesses.
“They look like two men focused on conquering those diseases while fixing the Royal Firm and very little else.”
Charles shared a touching moment with another cancer patient during the ceremony in which the monarch revealed he had lost his sense of taste during his treatment.
His Majesty spoke to British army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck, who told the King that he had undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer last year and had lost his sense of taste as a result – and Charles revealed that this had happened to him too.
Mrs James said Charles has ‘developed a new capacity for empathy, unfortunately thanks to his illness’.
“His body language with this veteran suggests a heightened level of understanding and even a bond while chatting,” she said.
‘He can now share experiences and his expressions and tone seem much more absorbed and even personal.’