The couple’s visit to the Midlands yesterday began at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull and was followed by a trip to the JLR Experience Centre, Topcliffe Primary School in Castle Vale and then Aston Villa Football Club.
Kate Middleton and Prince William are expecting their third child together and appeared in high spirits on the day.
In one particular picture taken by photographers, the royals could be seen looking fondly at each other, with their hands clasped together in front of them.
Both their left hands were held over their right, and both hands were held in close to the lower stomach. But what does this mirroring body language reveal about the duo?
According to author and body language expert Judi James, intense mirroring has always been a feature of the body language displays of this royal couple.
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She explained: “‘Like-bodied’ movement always signals ‘like-minded’ thinking and their identical royal waves plus the pace and style of their overall movements have always implied strong bonds of empathy and understanding.
“Mirroring like this is even more significant in a couple like Kate and William because William seems to drop both his military bearing and style of movement plus his more traditionally formal royal posture in an act of mimicry when he is with his wife.”
Judi adds that this “style-flexing” suggests he is not only in love with Kate but also slightly in awe of her.
She said: “She was always the one showing subtly stronger signals of confidence at royal engagements and William’s mimicry of her suggests he finds her confidence contagious.”
The industrial-strength mirroring in this pose though is extra fascinating.
Judi said: “It is a signature pose of the Duke and Duchess and tells a rather endearing story.
“William has always showed traits of shyness in his body language and this ‘fig-leaf’ hand barrier gesture is one he has used for years.
“It is a gesture of vulnerability and one that – normally – only men tend to use. Kate has taken to copying it though and then following it up by catching William’s eye and making him laugh.
“It is a very gentle way of making his pose look less awkward and also recognising any times that he might benefit from a spot of shared laughter.”
Other royal couple’s body language has proven interesting in the past.
The Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on November 20.
Looking back at their wedding day in 1947, what did the pair’s body language towards each other reveal?