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An expert calls it “subtle but very effective.”
After Prince George and Prince Louis went viral for their expressions and exuberance at various royal outings, a body language expert explained that Kate Middleton uses subtle, secret codes to wrangle her kids and make sure that they don’t get too excited or bored when they’re under the scrutiny of the public eye. Speaking to George V Magazine, expert Judi James shared that Middleton uses hand gestures that are generally too subtle for most people to see in order to corral her children George, Louis, and Princess Charlotte.
“Kate’s firm but subtle signals ensure the children keep feeling enthusiastic and, in Louis’s case, excited,” James said. “Talking to her children, there were a couple of gestures of what looked like guidance about when to wave. There was also a spreading gesture of both hands that would normally mean quite a severe message of when to stop or what not to do, too.”
James added that many of Kate’s motions fly under the radar, but they’re effective enough for the royal children to stay in line without feeling like they can’t have a little fun.
“She also put her hands below public view in the carriage to mime that ‘stop’ or ‘end’ sign to them as though warning them where the boundaries were,” James finished. “And on the way back she was doing small reward nods and smiles for their good behavior, to ensure they were enjoying the event, too.”
The Mirror adds that the Prince and Princess of Wales prioritize communication with their children and often have sit-downs with them to discuss their feelings and make sure that they don’t feel overwhelmed.
The outlet added that Middleton is “slightly stricter” than Prince William and that both parents have a deep connection to nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, who has been with the family since 2014 and helps the parents maintain their approach, which insiders have compared to a “military operation.”
“Maria is firm but she never acts unilaterally with the children on discipline. Kate and William, along with Maria, are strict with the children but have this magic ability to appear not to be,” a source shared. “It is a military operation, but you would never guess it because they work ferociously hard on their children’s upbringing and making it seem relaxed and happy for the three of them. They are very good at listening to the children, but being firm.”