King Charles, 74, “didn’t seem himself” and showed he wasn’t feeling as “confident” during his official welcome at Balmoral, a body language expert claimed.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, body language expert Darren Stanton said: “When he spoke with the guards, he didn’t come across as confident as he normally does.
“He’s wearing his kilt, and I saw he was playing with the pocket on his waistcoat a few times. This shows he was trying to distract himself and reassure himself when he was feeling uncertain and uneasy.
“It suggests he wasn’t feeling confident in that situation, for whatever reason. He came across as a bit tense. He didn’t seem himself.
“He’s normally enjoying himself and comes across as relaxed and happier. It’s going to be hard for him to be there without the Queen. He seems to be processing a lot of his emotions.”
The King was “rushed” according to Mr Stanton, but did display “genuine happiness” when greeting his fans outside the castle.
The expert explained: “When we saw the King joking with the public, there were genuine signs of happiness. His interaction with the crowd was quite minimal, however, they were authentic and seemed to be where he felt most comfortable.
“He would spend time shaking hands and interacting with people, but it was very short. He did look engaged with the people he met.
“But I noticed the positioning of his feet changing a lot during the conversations he had, suggesting he wasn’t completely engaged. It felt a little bit rushed on his side, however not in a disrespectful way.”
King Charles was notably unaccompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, 76, which the body language expert claimed could have “affected his confidence”.
Mr Stanton claimed: “It’s King Charles’ first time at Balmoral without his mother, Queen Elizabeth, so naturally he will have experienced a variety of emotions.
“From looking at his posture, he appeared reserved – this could be because Charles was appearing without Camilla by his side.
“While we’ve seen his confidence increase hugely during his solo engagements, Charles isn’t himself when he hasn’t got his ‘rock’, Camilla by his side.
“She is a huge support to the King and there is a notable difference in his non-verbal communication when she isn’t there, as Camilla provides a confidence boost and reassurance for Charles.
“When Charles is with Camilla, he has a completely different posture. When he’s on his own, his shoulders are down.
“But when Charles was spotted with Camilla in Balmoral at other appearances over the weekend, his shoulders were up, which shows confidence and feeling secure.
“He also moves at a faster pace with more energy when Camilla is by his side.”
