Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco announced their engagement in 2010 and in July the following year, they were married. With a 20-year age gap, the couple’s relationship has reportedly not been smooth sailing, in fact, rumours and supposed scandals have followed them for decades. Express.co.uk spoke to body language expert Judi James about the couple’s interactions with one another and whether there have been changes over the years.
Looking at Princess Charlene and Prince Albert in 2011, Judi said: “Charlene was looking happy but slightly shy, as though needing some encouragement and support from her husband at their royal engagements.
“The couple use eye contact here to signal warmth and communication and Albert places a hand on her back and offers her a smile of encouragement as he looks back at her.”
A year later, the expert suggests “an appearance of tension in both Charlene’s facial expression and her body posture” when the royal attended the Amber Lounge Gala.
“Her hand is linked into Albert’s arm but she will also often bring her bag up in a small barrier ritual. His smiles begin to look rather rigid here and Charlene’s dipped head suggests shyness might still be a problem.”
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“Charlene’s mini dress at the Louis Vuitton Cruise Line Show event suggests high levels of appearance confidence now.”
In 2015, “the couple looked devoted” as they present their children to the world for the very first time from the palace balcony.
Judi noted the couple “holding one baby each and using eye contact and mutual smiles”.
“At the Monaco Red Cross Ball Gala [that year] we suddenly see a very romantic and adoring Charlene, using loving add-on rituals to make a dance with her husband look like a magical moment.
“She places a head on his shoulder or she gazes at Albert as though in the honeymoon stage of their relationship and the couple laugh together, showing their fun side.”
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A couple of years later, in 2017 Judi said she spotted “signs of possible high levels of tension” when the couple attended Meeting Herculis Monaco.
“His [Prince Albert] arm around her seems to be aimed at pulling her into pose and he grimaces while she performs a very rigid smile and a tense hand clasp,” the expert explained. “She appears to be more reluctant at posing with him again and he seems to watch her with anxious eyes.”
Then, in 2019, “distance between [the couple]” was noted and Charlene “looked slightly isolated” Judi suggested when discussing the time the couple stepped out for the 59th Monte Carlo TV Festival.
“Albert eye-checks her as though keen to offer support and encouragement, using an arm to encourage her forward.
A year later, “Charlene looks model-chic, posing with a rather more confident look” for the Monte Carlo Gala.
Despite “some apparent tension in his [Prince Albert] face” Judi retierated how Charlene looked “rather more confident”.
As to the couple’s body languge displays now, “Charlene is back from her long stay abroad and gradually fitting back into the royal appearances”.
“Standing behind her daughter [at the Monaco Grand Prix] makes her look slightly isolated but clearly a devoted parent whose double arm clasp suggests she can barely let her children go.
“Albert looks devoted too, leaning back to talk to his wife in another gesture of what looks like gentle encouragement,” Judi said.