Why Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s speech is reportedly ‘less formal’ at solo engagements

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s speech in her solo engagements is “less formal”, whilst she is more “animated” when she has direct experience of conversation subjects, a speech expert has claimed. 

• Duchess Catherine’s speech is supposedly slightly different when she is accompanied by Prince William.
• A speech expert has claimed that the Duchess of Cambridge is ‘less formal’ when she is alone. 
• In other royal news, Prince Charles brands ‘obscure’ environmental language ‘unhelpful’ as he calls for agricultural change.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge has been undertaking a great number of important royal engagements via video call in recent months. With some reports recently claiming that she is growing in confidence in front of the camera, her characteristic warmth certainly comes across in those clips shared by the official Kensington Royal Instagram account. 

Whilst she is still often joined by her husband Prince William for some video appearances, Duchess Catherine has been increasingly undertaking video calls alone. Royal fans were left surprised recently after she posted her first royal selfie video ahead of Children’s Mental Health Week on February 1. 

Now a speech expert has suggested that in her solo engagements, the Duchess of Cambridge’s speech comes across slightly “less formal” compared to when she is joined by Prince William. 

How is Duchess Catherine’s speech different in her solo engagements? 

Though some royal fans might not have noticed, it’s been suggested that Duchess Catherine’s speech changes slightly when she appears by herself. 

Speaking to Express.co.uk, speech expert and voiceover artist John Briggs said: "From what I have seen, Kate is less formal when she is on her own.”

"As a consort to William she is used to putting him first", he claimed. He added that "actually she uses more empathy and prosody", light and shade, "in her voice than William does."

Prince William as the future king is considered slightly more senior in the royal family, with Duchess Catherine set to become his Queen Consort in the future when he ascends to the throne.

As reported by Express.co.uk, Mr. Briggs explained: "Being the number two in a relationship or even a conversation and knowing that all eyes tend to be on the number one" is "a tough job.”

"You learn your place and that you're not really the important one here,” Mr. Briggs continued. “Kate holds her own but is best when not in vision with William at the same time. It clearly frees her up to express her own opinions more."

And it seems like the topic of conversation also has a significant part to play, according to Mr. Briggs.

"Not surprisingly Kate is most animated in these online conversations when she is talking to people about things she has direct experience of," he stated. 

Both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have remained committed to their royal responsibilities throughout the pandemic, regularly making video appearances to discuss significant subject matters. 

Adding a relatable touch, photographs of the couple’s young children can often be seen in the background. 

It is understood that the Cambridge family has been spending the UK’s third lockdown at their countryside home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk.