Tensions within the royal family surfaced once again when Prince William and his uncle, Prince Andrew, shared what observers described as a “very frosty” interaction during the Duchess of Kent’s funeral service on Tuesday.
Footage from the service at Westminster Cathedral showed Andrew attempting to engage William in conversation. However, according to body language expert Judi James, the Prince of Wales’ gestures indicated discomfort and reluctance to interact.
“The Duke of York tries to engage his nephew in a good-humoured chat and all William’s non-verbal responses suggest awkwardness and a subliminal desire to reject the overtures, making this look like a very frosty transaction,” James told the Daily Mail.
She noted Andrew’s effort to draw his nephew into the exchange. “Andrew turns his head fully towards William to not only get his attention but also to seem to want to coax a mirrored response that shows he has his attention, too,” James explained.
“When he turns his face to the front, he is wearing a smug-looking smile, and he even turns back as though trying to gain a mirrored response from William.” James also analyzed William’s subtle avoidance tactics. “Firstly, he barely inclines his head in Andrew’s direction, and then he seems to avoid eye contact, looking down or away,” she said.
“William is at some pains to appear polite despite potentially feeling compromised here, but he is clearly made uncomfortable and is perhaps relieved when he can return to the more solemn facial expression of mourning.” The exchange highlighted the ongoing strain between the heir to the throne and his uncle, who stepped down from public duties following scrutiny over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The moment quickly drew attention from royal watchers, who viewed it as further evidence of William’s determination to distance himself from Andrew in formal settings. Despite the apparent tension, Andrew did not remain isolated during the service. Later, he was seen laughing with his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, and at one point was even spotted smiling while standing near Prince William.
Those moments of levity contrasted sharply with the earlier frosty interaction and suggested that Andrew remains keen to show a more relaxed side in public. The Duchess of Kent’s funeral brought together members of the royal family for a solemn occasion, but as the body language experts observed, it also served as a reminder of the lingering divisions within the monarchy. For Prince William, whose role as future king continues to grow in significance, the day appeared to require balancing respect for family ties with the weight of public perception.