Subtle sign Prince William was 'genuinely touched' by fan's message to Princess Kate

Prince William gave a sign he was moved by a gesture of support for Princess Kate during a royal visit, a body language expert has claimed. Judi James said William was "clearly affected" by sympathy shown by volunteer Rachel Candappa, who was working at a food distribution charity the future king visited in Surrey on Thursday (April 18).

Ms James told the Mirror: "William looks and sounds so touched here as he is given a get well card for Kate. His voice drops to a lower tone and he begins to nod in acknowledgment.

"He is clearly affected by the sympathy and he responds with a closer proximity and a touch on the woman's arm as a gesture of emotional recognition, empathy and thanks."

The Prince of Wales showed his appreciation when he received the get well soon cards, touching Mrs Candappa's shoulder and telling her: "Thank you very much, that's kind."

On William appearing touched by her gesture, Mrs Candappa said: "He's human after all. Remember - he's royal, but apart from royal he's a husband, a father to the children. So he needs to look after her."

She added: "When somebody's down, that's the time you need to come forward and show your appreciation, emotions and care were all in that card."

Mrs Candappa, 71, wrote in her card: "The nation's hearts were broken when you very courageously went on the global stage on your own to talk about your personal health issues." She added: "You must have had lot of steel in you to hold it together.

"Your Royal Highness you are going to beat this with the support of your (dutiful) and loving husband, caring parents and very close siblings."

Princess Kate announced she has started cancer treatment in an emotional video issued almost a month ago. The clip received widespread praise for its candid nature.

Ms James said she could observe a "softer, gentler and rather grateful look" in William's body language.

She noted how William's head was slightly tilted and he had his hands clasped in front of himself in a gesture of thanks. Ms James added: "His feet are splayed to provide inner confidence, but he looks like a man who has been in receipt of a lot of messages of affection, concern and care recently."

William smiled, joked and appeared to feel relaxed as he toured Surplus to Supper, based in Sunbury-on-Thames. It was his first public event since the Princess of Wales announced she had received cancer treatment.

He learnt about the charity's work supplying foodbanks and other organisations with donated produce, toiletries and meals made on site. William washed his hands and donned an apron to chop celery for a meal of chilli-con-carne and joined a van crew delivering food to a nearby organisation.

Wearing high-vis, the prince jumped out of the Surplus to Supper van at a youth centre and helped carry crates of food inside.

William then met staff and volunteers at the Hanworth Centre Hub in Feltham, west London, and also spoke to teenagers about the services provided, after joking they looked "a bit nervous".

The prince asked how much the surplus food deliveries save the youth centre each year, and said he was getting the impression Claire Hopkins, the co-founder of Surplus to Supper, was "a bit of a hit in the local area", before laughing and apologising for making her blush.

After the visit, Mrs Hopkins said she told William there were people in the room during his visit also undergoing cancer treatment.

She said: "We did give a card on behalf of our team for the King and for Kate, and as we did say that, you know, unfortunately it is something that there's many people, many people in the room that we were serving, have undergone or understand how difficult it can be and are connected, one or two people are connected in this way."

Mrs Hopkins added: "This is what community does, you work together, you communicate and you share the experience."

She added that she hopes the prince and his family "had a nice break together as a family" and that "the treatment will happen and it will be successful".