Prince William is not known for being fashion-conscious.

The father-of-three, 42, often opts for a tailored jacket and slim-fitting trousers – a practical outfit that does not need much adjusting when you’re out and about.

But as he left St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2018 alongside other members of the Royal Family, he became focused on tucking his scarf into his jacket – just as his sister-in-law, the Duchess of Sussex, appeared to try to make conversation.

Eagle-eyed royal fans quickly took to social media to theorise that it was William’s way of avoiding Meghan and his brother, Prince Harry, amid speculation that he had fallen out with them.

Writing on Instagram, one dedicated royal follower said: ‘It’s sad William ignored Meghan’s chatter as it looked like she said something to him!’

Another added: ‘Look at William being super obsessed with his scarf.’

But body language expert Judi James disagreed with this common observation, stating that Meghan may not have turned to talk to William in the first place.

‘The “moment” between William and Meghan did depend on their proximity and her eye gaze,’ James told the Express.

As Prince William left St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in 2018, he fiddled with his scarf

Royal watchers thought he was adjusting his scarf as a way to avoid talking to Meghan

But body language expert Judi James believes Meghan was looking at Catherine instead

William spent time tucking his scarf into his jacket on Christmas Day in 2018

‘On the surface it looked as though Meghan turned around to smile at William while he kept himself busy tucking his scarf into his coat and her face did appear to have dropped as she turned back.

‘But she could have been smiling at Kate rather than William, meaning he might genuinely have been out of the conversational loop at that particular point.’

Kate was used to acting as a bridge between her family and the Sussexes. But in that moment, she was busy having a conversation with Princess Anne. 

What’s more, the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden highlighted Princess Catherine’s ‘peacemaker’ role in the awkward footage from Sandringham.

Speaking in an episode of Reading the Royals in August 2024, the royal expert said: ‘It looks like [William] just doesn’t want to speak to Meghan at all and then at that point, it seems Catherine intervenes.

‘You know, as we’ve seen so often with her, she seems to be sort of the peacemaker and trying to make a bit of small talk, knowing full well that the cameras are all on them.’

It is understood that Queen Elizabeth II and the then Prince Charles allegedly made it clear that any rift between the two couples must be kept out of the public eye as they arrived together at the church that day.

Meghan holds Harry’s arm as the pair leave after the Sandringham service in 2018

Catherine and William leave the church at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2018

A source told The Sun: ‘The Queen and Charles have allowed the situation to play out without overtly interfering – but they both made it clear that Christmas was for the whole family to really come together.

‘That meant the two couples walking into church together as the Fab Four just like they had last year.

‘Yes, it was awkward and uncomfortable given what’s gone on over the past 12 months but the alternative of even more negativity on Christmas Day wasn’t worth thinking about.’

As well as putting on a united front by talking to the Sussexes on Christmas Day, Catherine made several attempts to extend an olive branch to Harry and Meghan before they officially stepped down as working royals in March 2020.

Although ‘recollections may vary’ as to who made who cry when it came to altering Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress in time for Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding in May 2018, it seems Catherine tried her best to bury the hatchet.

Speaking out in her explosive Oprah interview in 2021, Meghan said that Catherine had made her cry – despite headlines at the time saying that it was the other way around.

But the Duchess admitted that the Princess ‘owned it’ and ‘apologised’.

Meghan said: ‘She brought me flowers and a note apologising and she did what I would do if I knew I had hurt someone. To just take accountability for it.’

Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview was filmed in California between February 16 and 18, 2021

Catherine stands with her daughter Princess Charlotte as they leave the wedding of Harry and Meghan at St George’s Chapel in 2018

It was reported that Meghan left Kate ‘in tears’ over her ‘strict demands’ when it came to Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress. But when speaking to Oprah, Meghan claimed that ‘the reverse happened’

Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview sent shockwaves through the monarchy – and William struggled to recover from this emotionally.

In July 2021, William was due to unveil a statue of his mother Princess Diana in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden with his brother Harry, who had flown in from California for the occasion.

Although William was still seething from his brother’s allegations, a source told The Sunday Times that Catherine ‘worked her magic out of sight’ to ensure the unveiling went ahead smoothly.

The aide said: ‘[Catherine] was amazing behind the scenes when Harry came.’

In an emotional joint statement released on the day, William and Harry said: ‘Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.

‘Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.’

Royal expert Katie Nicholl recently said that the Princess of Wales will continue to act as a peacekeeper between the brothers as she has realised that life is ‘far too short’ for family feuds.

Catherine was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024.

William and Harry at the unveiling of the Princess Diana statue in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden in July 2021

A source said Catherine ‘worked her magic out of sight’ to convince William to attend the event alongside his brother Harry, who had spoken out in an Oprah interview a few months prior

After ‘a course of preventative chemotherapy’ and a host of both ‘good days and bad days’, Catherine announced she was in remission in January 2025.

‘When you go through something like a cancer diagnosis and you go through the sort of journey she has done, and you confront your own mortality, you realise life is short,’ Katie Nicholl told The Sun.

‘It’s far too short for rifts and family feuds. Perhaps that will be the role that she will play at some point in healing the rift.’