Kate Middleton’s ‘understandable tension’ during surprise trip with Prince William

Princess Kate showed “understandable tension” on her surprise outing with Prince William today before she “dazzled” with her smile, according to a body language expert.

The Princess of Wales travelled to meet the families of victims and emergency workers who were caught up in the horrific Southport stabbings earlier this year. After a private meeting with the victims, William and Kate went on to thank brave rescue crews who rushed to save children stabbed in the incident.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, died as a result of their catastrophic injuries when a knifeman broke into a Taylor Swift- themed dance party on July 30.

Speaking of Kate’s state of mind during the trip, body language expert Judi James said: “There were initially some clear signs of understandable tension from both William and Kate today and some photos will have shown her facial expression looking intensely sad. But the expressions were prompted by empathy as she and William listened to stories from bereaved parents.

“Kate and William allowed their body language signals to be led by the people they were meeting. As some parents spoke they sat wearing expressions of sympathy and concern but when the chats became more relaxed and some smiles broke out, Kate followed suit, with a return of the dazzling, pitch-perfect smile she has always been known for.

“The way she followed the body language lead showed she was keen to not make the visit about herself, but about the people and the victims she was talking to and about. It was a careful and thoughtful display on how to keep the spotlight pointed in the right direction.”