Have tensions between the King and Prince Andrew softened? Body language expert reveals how Charles' disgraced brother REALLY felt at the Easter Service
- Prince Andrew made low-key entrance at St George's Chapel for Easter service
- READ MORE: Body language expert reveals how Prince Andrew REALLY felt at the Easter Service
Prince Andrew's appearance - albeit a low-key one - alongside the rest of the royal family at the traditional Easter Sunday service suggests the 65-year-old may be being brought in from the shadows by his elder brother.
King Charles and the Duke of York have been pictured rarely together in recent years, since it was announced in January 2022 that Andrew would be stepping back from public life following his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
While at times today Prince Andrew looked like he'd rather be elsewhere, ducking quietly into St George's Chapel in Windsor while his ex wife Sarah Ferguson and Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence chatted to clergy outside, he was later spotted chatting to the King after he arrived with Queen Camilla.
The Duke of York, 65, who wore a navy suit and yellow patterned tie for the occasion, and King Charles, in a lighter blue suit with matching tie, could be seen on Sky News footage apparently in light chat.
Earlier, Andrew had arrived in a royal car alongside the wife he divorced more than 30 years ago and Princess Anne and her husband.
While Andrew exited the royal car largely out of view, his former wife Fergie appeared to be basking in the spotlight once more, waving to those who'd gathered to greet the royals and casually chatting to Princess Anne's husband as the quartet made their way to the chapel.
Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline that while Prince Andrew was clearly uncomfortable with being on public display, he was bullish too, suggesting that relations with his siblings may be on an upward curve.
The King pictured chatting to his brother Prince Andrew outside St George's Chapel in Windsor on Easter Sunday; since the disgraced Duke of York stepped away from public life in 2022, the brothers have rarely been spotted together
The public exchange on Easter Sunday between the monarch and his younger sibling suggest the Duke of York has been welcomed back into The Firm by Charles
Prince Andrew looked keen to get inside St George's Chapel this morning, but says body language expert Judi James, displayed a confident persona. Right: King Charles arriving for the Easter Matins service
The late Queen Elizabeth's second youngest son had a definite air of confidence about him, she suggested.
She explained: 'Andrew's pose looked more suited to the prow of a boat than a church service.
'With his jacket unbuttoned he splayed his legs in a pose of confidence, crossing one arm across his stomach and using the free hand to perform downward stabbing gestures with his index finger.'
James said: 'His body language still suddenly oozed a sense of arrogance for this moment in the sun though he certainly looked more furtively low-key, moving off alone to get into the chapel.'
While the Duchess of York, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence stopped to chat to the clergy leading the service, Prince Andrew side-stepped the conversation and, after a brief chat with an attendant at the door, quickly wandered out of public view.
His appearance for the seasonal celebration comes just a week after his accuser Virginia Giuffre broke her cover since she hit headlines claiming she had 'four days to live' due to a bus crash.
Footage aired on BBC News saw Prince Andrew, far left, appear to swerve a conversation with clergy as he made his way quietly into the service
The late Queen Elizabeth's second youngest son looked keen to get inside as quickly as possible
Prince Andrew was previously forced to pay out a settlement reportedly worth millions of pounds after Ms Giuffre alleged that paedophile Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her across the world to have sex with the prince when she was just 17.
Ms Giuffre had claimed he had sexually assaulted her three times, claims the Duke denied. The settlement did not involve any admission of liability on his behalf, and he denies any sexual contact with her.
This morning, after heading inside the church, Prince Andrew emerged again briefly as his daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, arrived at the chapel with their respective partners, Jack Brookbanks and Edoardo 'Edo' Mapelli Mozzi.
Judi James told MailOnline: 'Andrew suddenly re-appeared from inside the chapel, emerging from the gloom of the doorway like a cuckoo popping out of a cuckoo clock on cue.
'It was as though none of the other royals would engage him in conversation and he didn’t move towards Fergie or his daughters in a bid to mingle more naturally.'
In sharp contrast to her ex husband, Sarah Ferguson's body language relayed just how pleased she is to be back in public life, said James.
'Fergie seemed to have been appointed to provide a higher profile that was more like her days as a popular royal wife.'
Wearing a navy suit and yellow patterned tie, Prince Andrew, 65, who, following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, no longer has a public role in the royal family walked away from his former wife and the Princess Royal and her husband as they arrived at the chapel
After ducking inside the church, Prince Andrew emerged again briefly as his daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, arrived at the chapel with their respective partners
At one point the Prince chatted to Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who James says is tasked with being a royal 'buffer' for more awkward family members
Said James: 'Fergie appeared with the kind of high-profile body language signals she was famous for during her marriage, stopping to wave to the crowds after she emerged from her car.'
She added: 'Her expression looking severe at first as she stopped to chat with Anne's husband Tim before breaking out into laughter and moving off with the kind of animated enthusiasm that suggested a self-appointed-looking acceptance of being back in the fold.'
James surmised that when the foursome arrived at church though, it was clear that the Princess Royal's high position in the royal family ensured she was greeted for the longest time.
'Fergie appeared to be rather put in her place by the clergyman who was greeting the royals and who was already chatting with Anne.
'Fergie went to greet him in right royal style and then chatted but after a few moments the clergyman appeared to walk past her to resume his conversation with Princess Anne, leaving Fergie standing alone and looking rather awkward.'
Throughout, Vice Admiral Sir Tim seemed to once again be crucial to social cohesion in trickier moments, chatting to both Fergie and Prince Andrew during the arrival.
James says: 'Tim appears to now be the social buffer of the royal firm, the person apparently tasked to chat with an involved all the more 'awkward' members of the family.'
It was revealed that the Prince and Princess of Wales would not be at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, as they are spending the weekend with their children in Norfolk.
On Friday, a source had said the couple are choosing to spend time together as a family before Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis go back to school, The Mirror reported.
The Waleses, who have a country home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate, missed the annual service last year after Kate, who is now in remission, was diagnosed with cancer.
James said the day's order of arrivals appeared to have been well-planned in advance, saying: 'This right royal re-shuffle looked like a well-choreographed attempt to restore the more traditional royal hierarchical family-based line-up pre-scandals.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will not be at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle , as they are spending the weekend with their children in Norfolk
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew's ex wife Sarah Ferguson offered a more open and warm persona, waving at royal fans as she arrived
The 65-year-old Duchess of York exited the royal car facing well-wishers and media, and smiled in the sunshine as she made her way to the Matins service
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, wears a white jacket and black skirt for Easter Sunday
Members of the Royal Family today at the traditional Easter Matins service in the 15th century chapel in Berkshire
Sarah, Duchess of Edinburgh, wears a stunning plum-coloured coat for the occasion
Queen Camilla attends the traditional Easter Sunday Matins Service on Sunday
King Charles attends the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Easter Sunday
'Without William and Kate present it was down to an old-school pecking order.'
The service, which runs for one hour from 10.45am until 11.45am, has been a key date in the royal family's calendar for centuries.
Last year saw the King mark his return to public life following treatment for cancer at the traditional Easter service.
Just last week, the Queen paid tribute to the King's sense of duty saying he 'loves his work' and wants to do 'more and more and more' as he gets better.
Camilla said Charles, 76, who is receiving ongoing treatment for cancer, was 'driven' by helping others and indicated his cancer journey was one of 'recovery'.
Last month, the King experienced temporary side effects following treatment at the London Clinic, which required a short period of hospital observation that day.
Charles's Easter Sunday appearance last year was his first major public one following his cancer diagnosis.
He was applauded by the crowds as he greeted well-wishers who urged him to 'keep going strong'.
