Prince William tried to show ‘fondness’ towards Princess Beatrice as he kissed her on the cheek at their cousin’s wedding, a body language expert has claimed, in an act that showed she and Princess Eugenie are back in the royal fold. 

The sisters were noticeably ‘tense’ as they arrived at cousin Peter Phillips and his partner Harriet Sperling’s celebrations yesterday, just hours after the release of an ‘outrageous’ National Audit report which revealed they have never paid a penny in rent.

Beatrice and Eugenie perform no royal duties, have their own careers and high-flying husbands, yet have lived free of charge in exclusive palace properties for nearly two decades.

The news came after the pair had already taken a step back from the spotlight following the downfall of their parents – Sarah Ferguson and the disgraced ex-Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, over their friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

Yet despite recent controversies, Prince William appeared eager to maintain the bond with his cousins as he affectionately leaned in to kiss Beatrice at the wedding in Kemble yesterday. 

According to body language expert Judi James, the kiss was ‘symbolic’ of William’s wish to present a closeness to Beatrice. 

‘His body language suggests a desire to display bonds and even fondness,’ Ms James said. 

‘He performs what is called an “act of inconvenience” here to create this cheek kiss, bending and stooping low with his back hunched to get to the right height, William stretches his neck to plant a kiss on Beatrice’s cheek.

Prince William leans in to kiss Princess Beatrice on the cheek at Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding in Kemble yesterday 

Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and their husbands arrive for the nuptials yesterday 

‘This kiss was symbolic and meaningful in royal terms.’ 

According to Ms James, the kiss was the antithesis to William’s treatment of his uncle, Andrew, who he ignored at their last public appearance together. 

‘William was famously seen “cutting” Beatrice’s father Andrew as he sidled across to chat to his nephew at their last public outing together,’ she said. 

‘William’s message was a lack of any desire to be seen making any connection to Andrew, while Andrew tried to chat and even joke, William stood poker-faced in a powerful “ignore”. 

But despite William’s warmth towards Beatrice yesterday, the affection appeared somewhat unreciprocated, Ms James added, explaining: ‘Beatrice’s response looks tepid here though. She looks away, creating a distracted cheek kiss and she puckers her lips in a tense mime ritual rather than smiling warmly during the greeting.’ 

The tension seen by Beatrice and Eugenie came hours after it emerged the sisters have been secretly subsidised for years by their grandmother Queen Elizabeth and now by their uncle King Charles.

Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker, who has long been a critic of royal finances, said: ‘The Royal Family is yet again taking the public for a complete ride.’

The York sisters lived at St James’s Palace from 2008, before Eugenie, now 36, moved to Ivy Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace in 2018. She now splits her time between London and a £3.6million Portuguese home.

Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice arrive for the royal wedding 

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Beatrice and Eugenie have lived rent-free at Palaces for YEARS despite doing no royal duties

Her neighbours are said to include F1 racing drivers and fashion designer Christian Louboutin.

Beatrice, 37, stayed on at the apartment, which she shares with her husband, property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi, and their family, while also owning a multi-million pound home in the Cotswolds.

Both rents, the report reveals, are paid to the Royal Household entirely by Charles out of the Privy Purse, which is made up of his Duchy of Lancaster income and other private funds. No taxpayer money was involved.

However, the homes are situated in occupied royal palaces which are maintained by public funding via the Sovereign Grant – which was effectively reimbursed by the monarch on their behalf.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘We are grateful to the National Audit Office for this report, which is in line with The Royal Household’s commitment to transparency.

‘We hope that the findings will help correct, clarify or contextualise a number of points regarding royal properties.

‘As the report notes, arrangements for properties managed by the Royal Household vary based on a number of factors to ensure residences are filled appropriately, depending on their location, tenants and purpose.’

A spokesman for the Crown Estate said: ‘The Crown Estate welcomes the National Audit Office’s review which confirms its leases with members of the Royal Family were agreed in line with independent, professional advice and open market valuations.’