Prince William appeared ‘tense’ and ‘struggling with a desire to fight back’ as he arrived at the Tusk Conservation Awards – amid the publication of royal biographer Omid Scobie’s new book, a body language expert has claimed.
However, the Prince of Wales, 41, managed an apparent ‘turnaround’ as the evening wore on at The Savoy Hotel on The Strand in London, Judi James told FEMAIL.
She said the royal was performing “some of his most socially relaxed and engaged body language signals yet” after initially expressing “some indications that he may have been struggling with a desire to fight back against some of the claims made in this new book ‘.
Mr Scobie claimed in Endgame, which was published in Australia at the time of William’s outing before being released in Britain today, that the royal family has rejected attempts by Prince Harry to organize gatherings this year.
The Sussexes’ royal reporter said the Duke of Sussex made two attempts to arrange meetings with William in the wake of his powerful memoir, Spare, released in January, but the Prince of Wales refused both attempts.
Prince William (pictured) appeared ‘tense’ and ‘struggling with a desire to fight back’ upon his arrival at the Tusk Conservation Awards – amid the publication of royal biographer Omid Scobie’s new book, a body language expert has claimed
William smiled warmly as he greeted organizers upon his arrival at yesterday’s awards, but Judi said: ‘The Prince is usually the one who has the most difficulty in the Firm when it comes to hiding his inner feelings in times of personal attack and his body language upon arrival. this event revealed some indications that he may have been struggling with a desire to fight back against some of the claims made in this new book.
‘His teeth look slightly clenched to suggest tension when he opens his lips to smile, and there’s a lack of the kind of crinkling around the sides of his eyes that helps form an eye smile that’s a really good indicates mood.
“His feet are spread wide in a gesture of physical strength and his ability to pull at his cuffs suggests a subconscious desire to prepare for battle.”
She continued: ‘However, these are suppressed leak signals that he hides beneath a charming exterior and as the event progresses the mantra ‘What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger’ seems to apply as throughout the evening there is an apparent reversal as he executes some of his most socially relaxed and engaged body language signals yet.
“His speech shows that he can put aside all negative thoughts and focus on his case. As he mingles with the guests, he looks dashing.
‘With a drink in one hand, he is suddenly confident enough to put the other hand in one pocket, not out of a desire to hide by stuffing the hand away, but in a gesture that deserves that old-fashioned word: gentle .
William and rock ‘n’ roll royalty Ronnie chuckled as they both chatted at the awards ceremony
The Prince of Wales (left) speaks to Sally and Ronnie Wood at the 11th annual Tusk Conservation Awards at the Savoy Hotel
In his keynote speech, the Prince called the ceremony “a rare moment to reflect on the important achievements of our award winners and to recognize the challenges they face every day.”
‘During his conversation with Ronnie Wood, he even takes the lead in a rather tactile and compelling-looking conversation by holding Ronnie’s bicep while he talks. His smile of pleasure now looks relaxed and completely authentic, with that giveaway eye wrinkle that was missing upon his arrival.
“William’s body language has often suggested some social shyness or awkwardness, but if there is a ‘Scobie’ effect it seems to have only been positive when it comes to William’s new-found appearance of totally improved body language confidence here,” Judi concluded.
As the Prince presented awards and gave a speech in his role as patron at the ceremony yesterday, he shrugged off some explosive claims published in Endgame about his role in the royal family and the fractured relationship he now shares with his brother .
In a chapter on the Prince of Wales, Scobie recounts meeting one of the royal family’s former aides and asking him if William and Kate had learned of the “difficulties of being a reserve for the heir.”
Will opted for a chic navy suit and printed tie as he arrived at The Savoy for the awards ceremony
William chatted with Franck Arnold – the Managing Director & Regional Vice-President of The Savoy London
The source said: ‘[Prince William] has read passages, but not the full… Harry’s experience is very different from [that of William’s] own children.’
Elsewhere in the book, Scobie claims that Prince Harry tried to contact his brother twice while in London.
At the time, the royal family’s memoir had only been out for a few weeks, and his attempts to contact Prince William fell on deaf ears.
Scobie claims: ‘In February and March the prince turned to a mutual friend in London to try to spark a conversation with his brother, but those attempts were ignored.’
Prince Harry made a series of damaging claims about his brother in his memoirs – including detailing an alleged incident in which Prince William ‘punched him into a dog bowl which burst and cut his back’ at the Kensington Palace estate.
Omid Scobie’s new book Endgame about the royal family was published today
Furthermore, the Duke of Sussex also claimed that the Prince and Princess of Wales ‘told him’ to wear the infamous Nazi fancy dress costume and ‘cried with laughter’ when they saw him in it.
While promoting his memoir in January, Prince Harry invited him The Daily Telegraph‘s Bryony Gordon to the family’s home in Montecito, where he revealed he was “worried” about the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children.
He said at the time: ‘And although William and I have spoken about it once or twice, and he has made it very clear to me that his children are not my responsibility.
“I still feel a responsibility knowing that of those three kids, at least one will end up like me, the backup. And that hurts, that worries me.’