Kate Middleton's hidden signal at Wimbledon uncovered by body language expert
The Princess of Wales' appearance at the Wimbledon Ladies' Finals this weekend revealed a subtle, deeply personal signal, according to a body language expert.
For royal watchers, every public outing since Kate's recovery has been a cause for celebration. Yet Wimbledon, where she serves as royal patron, offered the Princess a chance to step back into the limelight not just as a royal figurehead, but as a genuine fan.
As Kate made her way to the royal box, body language expert Judi James noted how her 'signals of genuine delight and a little awe' lit up the moment. Seated next to tennis legends Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, Kate's wide-eyed expression appeared 'spontaneous and authentic' despite the volley of curtseys and formalities around her.
But it was her reaction to the crowd that unveiled a hidden signal. As the audience erupted into a standing ovation, Kate responded with a 'shy, low wave' - a gesture that Judi, speaking on behalf of VBET (www.vbet.co.uk), says was less about basking in adoration and more about modestly deflecting it.
'The response from the crowd is to roar louder, making Kate giggle,' Judi observed.
'She then performs the very telling micro-gesture of playful modesty, jutting her neck quickly in what looks like a comedy gulp of embarrassment, before flashing a broad smile with her teeth edge-to-edge.'
This small but powerful gesture echoed the late Princess Diana 's charm. 'Like Diana, Kate shares a trait of showing modest amusement that she should be the subject of any adulation,' Judi explained.
'It's in stark contrast to the traditional regal acknowledgment - the formal wave that signals 'expectations met' - beloved of other royals like the Queen Mother and the late Queen.'
Kate's final wave, accompanied by 'an expression of excited surprise' before she took her seat, encapsulated the warmth and relatability that has made her such a beloved figure in modern royal life.
Kate beamed as she stepped out at the finals ahead of watching USA tennis star Amanda Anisimova and Poland's Iga Swiatek battle it out on the court.
It's the first time Kate has attended an event since cancelling her appearance at Ascot last month.
She was said to be disappointed to miss the famous social and sporting occasion in Berkshire with her husband and the King and Queen.
Kate watched on as Iga Swiatek claimed her first ever Wimbledon title as she wiped the floor with Amanda Anisimova. The Pole claiming a 6-0, 6-0 victory on Centre Court - a result that hadn't been seen for 114 years at SW19.
Wimbledon is currently on its 13th day of schedule, with the event taking place at the famous All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Kate has been a regular at Wimbledon since she married into the Royal Family in 2011 and rarely misses the occasion.
After arriving at the iconic venue on Saturday, the Princess spoke with women's wheelchair tennis champion Wang Ziying - only moments after she won her final in straight sets.
Kate then had a lengthy chat with eight-year-old Lydia Lowe, who is representing the Dan Maskell Trust and was given the honour of doing the coin toss for the wheelchair final on Court No.1.
She also talked with Sophie Kneen, 12, who will do the coin toss for this afternoon's women's final, ball boys and girls, and honorary stewards.
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Alcaraz has not lost at Wimbledon since 2022, where he was defeated by none other than Sinner in the fourth round. A victory today would see the Spaniard secure three consecutive titles, while for Sinner it would be his first at the All England Club. During Kate's attendance yesterday, the princess met a string of inspirational children, players and volunteers, including Lydia Lowe, eight, who told the royal: 'Don't be nervous.' She also met Sophie Kneen, 12, who performed the coin toss for the ladies' final, as well as Wimbledon's longest-serving steward Bob Flint, who has worked at the Championships every year since 1980. Just like yesterday, Kate will also present the trophy to the men's winner. Alcaraz and Sinner's meeting today, their 13th overall, comes just weeks after their epic French Open final, which the Spaniard won after fighting back from two sets to love down in a thrilling five hour 29 minute contest.
