A photograph of Prince William and his three children was shared on Father’s Day, and an expert has shared their thoughts on why it didn’t feature their faces.
On Sunday, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis posted a touching photo taken by their mother, Princess Catherine, to wish their dad a happy Father’s Day.
The photo, captured on a beach, shows the three children standing and hugging their father while gazing out at the blue sea.
“We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day G, C & L,” read the caption on the official social media accounts of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Body language expert Judi James commented on the intimate nature of the photograph.
She told MailOnline: “William and Kate have eschewed the usual garden bench pose for Father’s Day this year to choose a much more intimate and telling photo that packs the boisterous playfulness of previous years.”
James described the setting as evocative of an idyllic, carefree childhood, free from royal constraints.
“The wind-swept beach, the sea view, and the casual outfits suggest an idyllic and very free, Enid Blyton-style childhood that is as uninterrupted by royal rules as possible,” she explained.
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The family’s posture, with William holding his children close, conveys a sense of unity and strength, she added.
The photo, showing the children in shorts and blue jumpers, illustrates their close bonds.
James noted: “Charlotte is happy to be a ‘daddy’s girl,’ wrapping her own arm around her dad and leaning towards him, but Louis and George seem to want to be seen as more adult here, which is often a result of starting school as Louis has done.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams highlighted the photo’s significance. “This is an inspiring photograph, taken from an unusual angle but very significant in its symbolism,” he said.
“We see William support and be supported by his children, and we know this is at a time when they need one another. They are at the seaside, looking towards a distant horizon, as the future of the royal family.”
Prince William also posted a Father’s Day message dedicated to his own father, King Charles III.
“Happy Father’s Day, Pa. W,” he wrote, alongside a photo of him as a toddler with his father smiling fondly at him.
The family were seen together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the weekend during the annual Trooping of the Colour.
This appearance was the first public outing for the children since Christmas, and marked Catherine’s return to public duties after her cancer announcement in March.
The Trooping the Colour ceremony, held annually on Horse Guards Parade in London, celebrates the official birthday of the British sovereign, King Charles III.
