As the Prince and Princess of Wales rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to making Welsh cakes and greeting the public in Pontypridd on Wednesday, they seemed more loved up than ever, according to a body language expert.

Kate, 43, and Prince William, 42, made their first joint engagement in Wales for more than a year to mark the nation's annual celebration of St David's Day on March 1.

Throughout their outing, the royal couple put on various displays of affection that 'almost made it impossible to not smile while you watch them', Judi James told FEMAIL.

The body language expert explained how the parents-of-three increased their 'authentic flirt rituals, looks of love and playful amusement' as they visited the Welsh town together.

Judi said the obvious warmth and cheer between the couple suggests the PDA witnessed in Kate's deeply personal cancer recovery video last September is set to continue.  

'It is a continuation of the love story narrative that we were finally allowed to glimpse during Kate's powerfully touching video update about her cancer,' said the expert. 

'The signals of touch and proximity in that video revealed their closeness as a loving and besotted-looking couple. 

'It looked like a one-off glimpse of how they behave behind the scenes of their more formal and less tactile public persona, but there were suggestions at this outing that they do intend the PDAs to continue.





The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the public in their first joint engagement in Wales for more than a year

'The couple touch-swapped in a way that showed mutual affection,' continued Judi. 'When they made Welsh cakes the flirt signals hit a high that was almost Nigella Lawson-esque. 

'Their eye contact produced face-crinkling, cheek-rounding looks of love and playful amusement and their touch, stroke and patting rituals showed a marked increase.

'The best way to tell the power of their flirt signals here though is by evaluating the viewer reaction. It's almost impossible to not smile while you watch them, which is always a reaction to authentic flirt rituals between an established couple.' 

Arriving for their outing via train, Kate and William held hands as they walked through Cardiff Central station, leaning their heads close together and chatting away.

Later on in the day as they toured Pontypridd, William and Kate walked arm in arm, beaming at each other as they waved to the crowds.

Their displays of affection continued throughout their trip, with the husband and wife laughing and joking as they were put to work in The Welsh Cake Shop in the centre of the town.

Donning aprons and rolling out the before cutting out 12 cakes and piling them up, the scene appeared one of domestic bliss as Kate - a keen baker - looked impressed at William's efforts and kingslot96 said: 'Those are so good. How did you do that?'

William said: 'Well I don't know, my stunning bakery skills, Mary Berry taught me everything I need to know.'




As the Prince and Princess of Wales rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to making Welsh cakes and greeting the public in Pontypridd on Wednesday, they seemed more loved up than ever, according to a body language expert 





Judi added their displays of affection give a glimpse in to their dynamic behind the scenes and suggested they may well choose to continue their PDA, noting that their subtle hand-holding

Judi explained that their outing showed off their strong bond, that Kate had returned to her role of leading public interactions and that the couple are doing well following the Princess's cancer treatment.

She explained that Kate and William's display of affection showed that the couple are still as much in love with each other than ever.

The expert suggested that part of that loved-up dynamic could be seen in the subliminal mirroring of each other's movements as they baked, gesturing and smiling together. 

And while Kate and William seem stronger than ever, Judi added that their dynamic has returned to the pace it had before Kate's cancer announcement with her taking the lead. 

She said: 'Kate is back in charge. Before her illness struck, William had been happily settling into more of a back seat role during their visits together, watching with pride and almost a sense of relief as Kate tended to lead and dominate the meetings and chats.




The Prince and Princess of Wales depart after a visit to Pontypridd Market in Wales





Kate and William visit Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland on February 26, 2025 in Pontypridd, Wales





As they entered The Welsh Cake Shop in the centre of the town, the Prince and Princess of Wales donned aprons and got to work making the sweet treat





Body language expert Judi James revealed that Kate and William's display of affection showed that the couple are still as much in love with each other than ever




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'That dynamic has happily returned here, with Kate seen leading the group conversations, using active gesticulation while William relaxes wearing the widest grin. 

'It is Kate handing over the spatula to get her husband involved in flipping the Welsh cakes here, and it is Kate's supportive, steering hand on William's back as they arrive at a market to meet the staff working.'

The expert also said that Kate's smiles and laughter showed a return to the version of her the public is used to seeing before her cancer diagnosis. 

She said: 'There was the expressions of joy on both their faces as they chatted and laughed with the fans, with a happy return to Kate's wide open-mouth laughter that we used to see before her illness.'

While in the Welsh town, the couple stopped at the Fountain Café to meet a group of business owners for a conversation about life in Pontypridd Market and its role within the local community.

Afterwards William and Kate visited Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland, which has been designed to create a safe and welcoming place where the local community can come together and enjoy the benefits of nature.

The project to create a community garden was established in January 2021, when work began to clear a site that was overgrown and full of debris from flooding.

There, the Princess of Wales promised to send her recipe for plum jam to a young gardeners.






Kate heard how young volunteers at a community garden in Wales were growing their own plums and turning them into jam, and said: 'I'll send you my plum jam recipe so you can try it.'

She also revealed that she is learning to forage in Norfolk, with her three children left impressed by a 'huge' puffball mushroom she had found near their home.

'The children thought it was fascinating,' she recounted.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were given a tour of the woodland walks and homegrown produce before being whisked off by their security team with William telling volunteers: 'I'm sorry, we've got to catch a train. They're getting a bit panicky!'


Judi JamesWalesPrince WilliamKate Middleton