Prince William is taking it easy when it comes to his royal style. The Prince of Wales, 42, wears more sweaters and shirts instead of his usual suit and tie combo. The reason for the subtle change? A body language expert says it points to William becoming more confident and, in turn, “more relaxed.”

William’s casual look suggests his confidence is ‘growing’

Body language expert Judi James analyzed the shift in how William dresses. Speaking to the Daily Mail, James shared it’s likely a combination of confidence, priorities, and trust.

“William’s recent change of style and his much less cautious-looking and less formal body language seems to indicate both a growing confidence in terms of his stepping up to the throne,” she said. “And maybe an update in his priorities since Kate’s and his father’s illnesses,” she added in reference to Kate Middleton and King Charles III.

“Some of his signals of inherent shyness have decreased and he looks happy to be more immersive and more relaxed as a result,” James continued. William even seems to be more “relaxed and open” in public as the result of “slow-learned trust.”

“So many of the barbs in his life have come from within his own closest family group,” the body language expert said. “And perhaps he finally sees, feels, and appreciates the strong support and affection he can enjoy from the public.”

More family time has likely influenced William’s look

James also suggested William and Kate’s three kids—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6—may play a role in their dad’s new look. William’s reportedly started working with Kate’s longtime stylist, Natasha Archer, but the Wales kids could be a sounding board.

“William has three children that are getting to the age where they will often make comments or jokes about any out-of-date dad clothing and start to quietly revolutionize his look, especially as he seems to have been spending more time with them recently,” James said.

Plus, with all their family time William may have grown accustomed to more relaxed looks and fewer blazers and ties.

William’s relaxed look hints he has more ‘control’ in the royal family

James also noted the change in William’s wardrobe could reflect his growing status within the royal family. (He became first in line to the throne when Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022.)

“His step-up closer to the throne might have created pressure as his responsibilities increased,” she said. “But pressure and stress will often decrease when feelings of control increase.”

With that in mind, “William’s recent outings seem to imply that he feels more in control of his own destiny as a royal than he did when he had his grandmother and father to answer to.”

Take, for instance, the drama about Prince Harry sporting a beard on his wedding day in 2018. William, the Duke of Sussex claimed in Spare, was upset Queen Elizabeth OK’d it for Harry and not him years earlier.

These days William is higher up the royal chain of command. As such, the question of “Beard or no beard?” is one he has more control over, along with the rest of his wardrobe.