With the Princess of Wales “excitement and confidence” on full display at last night’s carol service, a body language expert believes she has cemented herself as the “royal spirit of Christmas”

A body language expert has decoded the Princess of Wales’ appearance last night(Image: PA)

The Princess of Wales hosted her fifth annual Together at Christmas service last night, joining more than 1,600 guests and members of the Royal Family in Westminster Abbey to celebrate the festive season.

Braving the cold, Princess Kate beamed as she entered the Abbey to meet with clergy members, performers and attendees in the church. Adapting to her royal role with ease, Kate mingled effortlessly with those who were thrilled to be invited to celebrate Christmas alongside the royals. And according to a body language expert, the service helped to showcase how the future Queen is a “dominant soft-power royal in her own right”.

Princess Kate arriving at the Together at Christmas carol service(Image: Getty Images)

Judi James told the Mirror that Kate’s warm actions at the annual Christmas concert “seal her role as defining the spirit of Christmas in a way that has not been seen before in the Royal Family.” Speaking of past traditions, Judi said: “Christmas royal body language has traditionally been as formal and even stilted as at any other time in the year. The Queen’s speech and now the King’s speech contain few relaxed, fun smiles and no real air of seasonal informality.”

“Kate has steadily made herself as much a part of Christmas tradition with these services though and her body language this year is remarkable in terms of reflecting and embracing the true spirit of Christmas.”

When the Princess of Wales arrived at the Abbey, she seemed excited and eager to get the festivities underway and mingle with distinguished guests, as Judi explained: “Her mood can be seen as her car pulls up: we can see her chatting animatedly, beaming and tossing her head inside the car in a strong announcement gesture to show that her excitement and joy are authentic and not just a mask put on for the public.”

“Her walk to meet the clergy is fast-paced and high in energy, suggesting keenness and confidence and she adds a beaming smile to acknowledge the screams and cheers from the public. Kate’s smile here has one very telling detail, where her tongue is just visible between her teeth. This micro-gesture is a ‘tell’ of genuine anticipation and delight.”

Kate Winslet and the Princess of Wales(Image: Getty Images)

Inside the Abbey, Kate took the time to speak to each performer individually and thank them for contributing to her concert, while also speaking to members of the congregation. Judi said: “Kate’s hosting signals are pitch-perfect. She uses an outstretched arm to shake hands but bends her other elbow so her arm is in a ‘freeze-frame’ gesture. Combined with her forward-leaning torso this pose suggests keenness to meet and chat to the people waiting in line. It’s an active listening ritual.

“When she greets and chats to the small girl, she crouches right down to the girl’s height and gently touches her arm to signal the kind of undivided attention that will make the little girl feel like the VIP, not her.”

As Kate made her way through the church to speak with guests, she stopped for a heartfelt conversation with Canadian actor Eugene Levy, as the pair discussed Levy’s day out with Prince William earlier this year for Levy’s series The Reluctant Traveller.

Judi decoded their interaction, as she said: “With Eugene Levy she makes a ‘connecting’ conversation, where she mentions the interview he did with her husband, with an ‘enthralled’ hand gesture where her hands are clasped and held high to her chest to encourage him to tell her more. Her spatial distance here is minimal to show a more intimate conversation rather than just royal small-talk and her head-tilt is a signal of a desire to be liked.”

The Princess of Wales shared a joke with Eugene Levy(Image: Getty Images)

With the annual Christmas concert becoming a key event in the royal calendar, Judi believes that by Kate taking ownership of such a joyous occasion – especially one focused on love, togetherness and acceptance – she has solidified her role in the Royal Family.

“It’s the kind of event a Queen would normally do but even then, she has taken it to a different level by showing such total ownership as host,” Judi explained. “This year more than ever it looks like her own hands-on event and to create her own new Christmas tradition for the public is a phenomenal achievement from someone who married into the royal family. “