A HEARTWARMING picture of Prince William and his three children snapped by Kate Middleton has shown he’s steering away from royal tradition.
The never-before-seen picture taking by the Princess of Wales shows Prince William as a protective figure to Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, for Father’s Day.
The candid photo was taken by Princess Kate in Norfolk last month while she bravely fights cancer.
The gorgeous pic which shows the trio looking out onto the sunny beach setting, was uploaded to Kensington Palace’s Instagram account earlier today.
Posted with an adorable caption by the three young Royals, it read: “We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day. G, C & L,” and is the first message from the children posted on the Palace’s official social media.
Body language expert, Judi James exclusively tells The Sun that the image shows just how hands-on a father Prince William is to his beloved children.
She says: “This is a poignant-looking pose of shared affection with William and his three children looking out reflectively onto the horizon on a secluded seaside beach.”
“William is very much the protector here, stretching both arms out to encircle his children in a ‘winged’ gesture, as though hiding them under his wings,” the body language expert adds.
“Charlotte is very much shown as Daddy’s girl here, leaning in towards her father and placing her arm around his waist.
“George and Louis show body language signals of a desire to announce they see themselves as rather grown-up here though.
“They stand with their arms around each other and with George’s arm around Louis illustrating the dynamic we can see in their public appearances, where George is clearly protective of his younger brother, acting as a similar role-model to Louis as William was to him.”
While Kate was behind the camera for this shoot, Judi explains that she is ‘sharing the view of the future with her boys but also recording the moment as a proud mother.’
While we may be unable to see the royals’ faces, the candid shot form behind shows an intimate side to the family.
Judi says: “The casual clothing gives it an idyllic, Enid Blyton look and the way the group stand with their backs to the camera make this an intimate moment of looking forward into the future.
“Instead of William and the children facing the camera to project their pose in a non-verbal conversation with the viewer they are seen ‘caught’ in a moment of more spontaneous affection here as we are allowed to share the view with them rather than watching them pose up self-consciously or to romp playfully as they have tended to do in previous photos.
“It’s a pose that seems to signal the beginning of the end of childhood and the freedom enjoyed before the move into royal adulthood.”
Prince William is a pillar of strength for Kate Middleton
EXPERT analysis by author and royal expert, Ingrid Seward.
Steadfast when his family needed him, William has proved himself as a man and future monarch of strength and compassion.
While he might not have been present during Kate’s courageous video address — make no mistake, he has been by her side every step of the way.
William has stepped up with school-run duties and provided a “great source of comfort and reassurance” to his wife.
But he has also been a comforting and reassuring presence for the public.
From leading members of the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day Service to enjoying cheerful banter with youngsters on a youth centre visit, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.
Even then there were few chinks in his facade — but Kate was clearly on his mind.
“She needs to be sat here to hear this,” he smiled when the discussion turned to the challenges of young families.
But ultimately he is only human.
To have your father and your wife diagnosed with cancer in such quick succession is heart-shattering.
It’s a remarkable insight into the character of this young man that he has been so incredibly brave.
Theirs is a very private turmoil which has been brought into the public arena by the nature of their roles as future King and Queen.
William must feel the weight of enormous responsibility, both personally and for the monarchy, of which he is now the public face.
But he knows his most important role is that of dad and husband.
He will make that his priority.
This is a distinct difference from the ways of the past, where your royal role came before the role of spouse and parent.
Think back to when the Queen was young.
William’s priority is his family
It was a man’s world then — and she was forced to abandon her children in a way that William is determined not to.
William and Kate waited until the school term was over and their children were home before making their public announcement.
They needed to be prepared.
In this, they will have had the wholehearted support of Charles — who knows what it feels like to be brought up by nannies.
William was also acutely aware of the lack of his own father’s presence in his life, especially when things went wrong.
In 1991, he was accidentally hit over the head with a golf club when he was at school and Diana was having lunch in her favourite restaurant San Lorenzo.
The call came through that William had been bashed on the head and they thought he might die so it was very serious.
Both Charles and Diana rushed down to Ludgrove.
William was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital and then to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Diana went with him.
But ever a man of duty, Charles prioritised his engagements.
William is determined to do things differently.
And Judi says this not only shows just how close the family are behind closed doors, but also shows Prince William is breaking away from royal dad tradition having a more informal relationship with his children than previous royal family members.
“The casual and tactile theme of this pose shows a detachment from previous generations of royal dads” she adds.
“While Charles and even Philip were always shown playing with their boys wearing formal suits and with a hands-off approach or one hand even pushed into a pocket, William’s ‘winged’ embrace shows a desire to be casual, informal and very much hands-on as a dad.”
It comes a few hours after Wills posted a touching Father’s Day tribute to his ‘Pa’ King Charles with a nostalgic photo taken 40 years ago.
The sweet snap shows a young William playing football with his dad on June 12, 1984.
“Happy Father’s Day, Pa,” the post, personally signed by William, said.