It’s Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday on Saturday, and Prince Philip’s real birthday on Sunday and despite their old age, the pair appear to still be touchingly committed to one another.
They’re not known for wild public displays of affection, but the little they do show reveals a lot, according to body language experts.
Patti Wood, the author of SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, and Blanca Cobb, behind Methods of the Masters, analysed photographs of the Queen and her Prince over time — and told Good Housekeeping that little has changed over the years.
While the younger royals are more comfortable with showing their down-to-earth sides to the public, it’s understandable that the older generation is a little more stiff.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh marked their platinum wedding anniversary — an impressive 70 years of marriage — in November 2017. They’ve been through a lifetime of royal duties and, if the rumours are true, even affairs.
Yet the one thing that has never changed is their uncompromising commitment to one another.
Cobb told Good Housekeeping: “When you look beyond the royal formality of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth’s public appearances, you clearly see Prince Philip’s love and adoration for his Queen.”
And the feeling appears to be mutual.
But according to Wood, being the Monarch and all, the Queen feels the need to assert her independence, and she is “always trying to be seen as her own person.”
He naturally lets her take the lead, but he’s never far behind.
They even have a special touch that isn’t all about affection.
“This type of hand hold is seen time and time again,” said Wood. “It’s more formal than interlocking fingers but it’s unique to them. It’s their way of reassurance and comfort.”
Although these days, she pointed out, the touch is also for practical reasons, as at 91 years old Her Majesty is not as strong as she once was. “In her older years, the Queen holds hands with the Prince for assistance as opposed to affection.”
And the Prince is always dutifully ready and waiting. “He’s constantly looking at the Queen to make sure that she’s okay. He’s completely in tune with her needs,” Cobb added.
During public appearances, you’ll often catch them engrossed in a private conversation, a feat for any couple after a lifetime of marriage.
And they really do seem to still share the look of love…
…And make each other smile.
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