Body Language Expert Weighs in on Duchess Sophie & Prince Edward's Relationship

First off, Stanton noted that the couple are sticklers for tradition, which is why you won't catch them showing too much PDA. He explained, “Their attitude to their relationship is much more in line with the traditional royal standards. They clearly love each other dearly, but we would never see the same levels of public illustrators of this as we do with the likes of Mike and Zara Tindall and other royals of their generation."

He continued, “We tend to forget, because he is younger than Charles, that he grew up in that same environment and would have been subject to that same strict education on royal protocol. We rarely see Edward and Sophie holding hands, or giving each other a kiss, and when they do their postures and gestures are always incredibly formal. It’s all about royal traditions for them.”

Sure enough, I've spotted plenty of their formal photos, where the two stand side-by-side without holding hands or embracing. But according to Stanton, this is partly because of Prince Edward's quiet and reserved nature, and several hints reveal their genuine bond.

Stanton explained, "Of the three brothers, he is certainly the most introverted, and you can see that with how reserved he is about his relationship in the public eye. Despite this, you can see from his and Sophie’s body language that they have a very strong relationship. They are always making very strong eye contact with each other. There are frequent glances between them for support and reassurance in public appearances."

The expert continued, "This speaks to how close their bond is. If you are a more introverted person and have been pushed into a more public role, as Edward has since the Queen died, he will be looking for someone who makes him feel safe in these situations. His regular glances to Sophie show how much love there is between them."

“They have become much more adept at doing royal engagements since stepping up to senior roles. Partly due to practice, but also due to the ability they have to lean on each other for support. As time goes on, you see Edward exhibit far less of the self-soothing gestures, like the fiddling with his cufflinks, due to Sophie’s strength and support.”

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