01 December 2023 , 09:39
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Prince William looked "determined" to "protect" his wife Princess Kate amid the ongoing race row as they appeared together at the Royal Variety Performance last night.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 41, appeared bonded and in high spirits as they accompanied Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel at last night's event – which took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The outing was their second public appearance of the day – the first of which saw them break cover to carry out royal duties following the release of Omid Scobie's book, Endgame.
The book not only paints Kate in an unflattering light – as she's accused of being a 'part-time' working royal – but a Dutch version of the book also names herself and King Charles as the senior royals accused of making comments and sharing 'concerns' about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son, Prince Archie. Despite the fallout from the book sparking a worldwide debate and placing the Royal Family back into the spotlight, the royals have remained tight-lipped on the matter.
However, body language expert Judi James has claimed Prince William appeared determined to protect his wife as they stepped out together last night. She exclusively told the Mirror: "There was no 'Endgame' from William and Kate here, who gave a masterclass in the art of looking regal and totally bonded and romantically entwined as a couple here in the face of all the insults and accusations in Scobie's book.
(PA)
The couple stepped out to attend the Royal Variety Performance last night (PA)"William was more tactile than ever before here, holding his hand out to Kate in a gesture of loving support, which she took with a long gaze and a hand that carefully displayed Diana's engagement ring. William also looks determined to make statement gestures here."
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She said of the Prince of Wales: "His body language towards his wife looks tactile and protective. He is at his romantic best here, stretching one hand out to take Kate’s and then leading her in as though presenting her proudly to the watching world. He places one hand on her back in a steering gesture that also looks protective and the smile he gets from her in response appears adoring and grateful."
Judi went on to add: "Their eye contact was more sustained and meaningful than we have seen from them before and Kate’s smile moves from her usual pitch-perfect social smile to a much warmer, open-mouthed smile of delight." She continued: "William has spent his entire adult life avoiding any of the risks for Kate that his mother suffered in the same role. Now he seems to step up to show unity and utter resilience as he shows the world what a genuine royal power couple look like."
Omid Scobie denied writing the names of the senior royals in his original manuscript (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)The allegations first came to light when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in 2021. Meghan alleged members of the Royal Family had raised "concerns" and had "conversations about how dark" their then unborn son Archie's "skin might be". However, Meghan and Harry refused to name the members of the Firm who shared such "concerns".
When the Sussexes made their explosive allegations on Oprah, in an interview broadcast around the world, they set in train a public debate about who in the royal family might harbour such racially charged views. In a multicultural modern Britain such allegations against the monarchy generated debate on a matter of such public importance with Scobie's new book claiming to add to that public debate.
However, at the time, Buckingham Palace released a statement, saying: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members." Prince William also addressed the claims while on a royal engagement in the days following the Oprah interview. Asked by a reporter: "Is the royal family a racist family, sir? to which he quickly replied: "We're very much not a racist family."
The names of the accused royals were not made public until a Dutch version of Omid Scobie's book was released. Author Omid denied ever writing the names in the original transcript publishers originally blamed a translation error - but this explanation has now been retracted, as translators in the country said this could not have been the cause.