Body language expert says Duchess Sophie has a ‘knack’ for fitting in

Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward exchanged nuptials in 1999 and share two children together – Lady Louise Windsor, and James, Viscount Severn.

Just like Kate, Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla, Sophie married into the British Royal Family but has since gone on to hold a more senior title than some blood relatives.

As part of her royal duties, the Duchess of Edinburgh is always in attendance on special occasions alongside a number of solo engagements with the public.

While this is a normal part of life for high-ranking individuals in the monarch, body language expert Judi James noted that each woman has their own unique style when it comes to such royal events.

And Sophie is particularly interesting in the way that she interacts so authentically with everyone she meets – no matter the occasion.

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Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Judi said: “Sophie has always seemed like the silent royal survivor, an unexpected success story from the generation of royal women that brought us Diana, Fergie, Camilla and Anne.

“She had her moments in terms of negative publicity but her general technique of keeping her head down and looking resolutely ‘normal’ and natural made her a poor target for any dramas, allowing her to emerge now with her family life intact and her likeability factor extremely high.

“Sophie doesn’t do celebrity and she doesn’t do self-pity or lectures. Unlike Kate, she doesn’t appear to have stepped off a catwalk or from the pages of Tatler, but she does have the kind of visual charisma that makes her relatable.

“In an era of extreme branding and PR pitching, Sophie looks both authentic and nice.”

Of course, Kate and Camilla’s higher-ranking positions in the family govern their behaviour to a certain extent, but when it comes to the Duchess of Edinburgh, Judi claimed that her genuine nature is what makes her more forthcoming to the people she crosses paths with.

The body language expert alleged: “Sophie’s status signals tend to be low in terms of looking ‘royal’ but her body language exudes a sense of natural leadership. Sophie looks like a true team leader: calm, quietly confident and practical and down-to-earth.

“In contrast, Camilla’s leadership signals are negligible as she tends to adapt herself around her husband, looking timid and slightly ill-at-ease as a result, while Kate has the kind of star quality that makes her stand out, rather than blend into a team.

“Like Kate, Sophie is very skilled in immersive body language when she is on a visit, getting down to the height of the children she is with to encourage them to be the stars rather than herself, and prompting with eye contact and active listening signals.”

Perhaps down to their maternal instincts, both the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh show intense empathy on royal visits, but Judi suggested that it’s the ability to fully understand the circumstances of the public that really gives Sophie an edge when offering support and encouragement.

The mannerisms expert claimed: “Unlike Kate and Camilla, Sophie seems to have the knack of fitting in. When she has been working on charity visits it could be quite easy to forget she is there because she seems to blend in so well with other volunteers.

“And that is probably the point with Sophie. Unlike Kate and Camilla, a Queen and a future Queen, Sophie really can lead something of a normal life, meaning her work at food banks and charity shops can be done privately and allow her to spend longer helping.

“Her slightly lower royal rank also allows her to be openly emotional at royal events like the funeral of the Queen, and to be seen as a supportive, safe pair of hands to other, younger or newer royals.”