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'AWKWARD' AUNT
‘Alarmed’ Kate Middleton ‘thrown off balance’ by Lilibet question but still excited for baby, says body language expert
KATE Middleton was "thrown off balance" when asked about her new niece Lilibet today, according to a body language expert.
Judi James said the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, was "alarmed" by the question, but still seemed excited to meet Harry and Meghan's daughter.
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Kate was quizzed about baby Lilibet as she visited a school in Cornwall for the G7 summit.
She was asked: "Do you have any wishes for your new niece?"
Kate replied: "I wish her all the very best, I can’t wait to meet her.
"We haven't met her yet but hopefully that will be soon."
The royal also confirmed she hasn't had a video call with her niece, after the Duke and Duchess revealed they introduced their newborn to the Queen virtually.
Judi described Kate's dealing with the question as "awkward" but "delighted".
She told The Sun Online: "Kate handles this with a degree of grace but there’s little doubt it’s an awkward moment that seems to throw Kate slightly off-balance.
"Even as Kate looks up here as the question is shouted out there is a look of some alarm on her face as though not expecting to be addressed directly.
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"She performs a small tongue-poke to suggest a subliminal desire to reject before her mouth widens into her signature, pitch-perfect smile.
"But even this isn’t held in place for long, with the lips pursing quite quickly.
"When Kate hears the mention of her niece her instant reaction is a high vocal-toned ‘Ah!’ of what sounds and looks like delight.
"Her head tilts back though as she claps her hands together to suggest excitement at the mention of the new baby.
"‘I can’t wait to meet her’ is followed by a less assured ‘I haven’t met her yet’ as though Kate is over-thinking the ‘reveal’.
"A series of head tilts and nods look like a very polite and elegant suggestion to end the conversation that some would see as a bit of a broadside."
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Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born at 11.40am at a Santa Barbara hospital on June 4.
Kate and William both expressed their "delight" at the happy news after it was announced on Sunday.
But it comes amid royal tensions - with the family barely seeing Harry and Meghan's first child Archie since he was born in May 2019.
Sources have also said Palace officials were left out of the loop after Lili's birth - and only found out at 5pm along with the rest of the world.
A sensational war of words also erupted between Harry and Meghan, the Palace and the BBC this week over her name.
The row was started when a Palace source told the the Sussexes "never asked" Her Majesty about using her childhood nickname.
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Harry then hit back just 90 minutes later saying his grandmother was "supportive" of his choice of name and the couple wouldn't have used it if this wasn't the case.
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The battle has now intensified after Harry and Meghan threatened the BBC with legal action through law firm Schillings.
The threat came just hours after he attempted to clear the drama up in a statement issued through spokesperson Omid Scobie.
Trisha Goddard slams ‘bullying’ of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they name new baby girl Lilibet
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