Prince Andrew's eye-opening remark at Easter Sunday service uncovered by lip reader

Prince at today's Easter Sunday service has raised eyebrows with royal watchers, and now one expert has uncovered a surprising remark he made at the event.

, Windsor Castle, for the annual royal occasion, lead by the and . He attended alongside his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York as well as and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Andrew has not been pictured at a formal event since last Easter and upon arriving for the service, he made a beeline inside - before rejoining the royal fold for the arrival of the King and Queen. As the royal party waited for Charles and Camilla, Andrew was seen chatting to his brother-in-law, Sir Tim.

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And according to professional lip reader Jeremy Freeman, although it was not clear exactly what was being said between the pair, the Duke of York mentioned and Kate - who did not attend today in order to spend time with their children - and seemed to be referring to a seating plan.

Meanwhile, body language expert Judi James told the that Andrew signalled a "cocky arrogance" during an "awkward-looking" chat. She explained: "Prince Andrew's body language made this look like his debutante's coming out ball as he performed a kind royal quick-step to appear back in the role of second son to the late Queen.

"While his ex-wife Fergie displayed newly-found signals of royal confidence, waving to the crowds, chatting and laughing in her signature animated way and striding forward to greet and chat with the clergy, Andrew waited until the rest of the Firm were in place before suddenly appearing from the gloom of the Chapel doorway where he must have been hiding before making his dramatic entrance.

"Andrew's body language signals were all about a kind of cocky arrogance here. With his jacket undone he positioned himself in the gap in the middle of the group where he stood with his legs splayed in a pose of confidence.

"He crossed one arm over his belly and his free hand was used to show a stabbing pointing index finger as he chatted with a rather awkward-looking Commander Tim. He evaporated back into the gloom of the porch once Charles arrived but that also gave him the option of walking into the chapel close behind the King and Queen, perhaps with Fergie who seemed to have nipped to stand behind him."

A member of the gathered crowd shouted “Happy Easter, sir” to Andrew as he left St George’s Chapel after the service. He glanced at them before walking off with Fergie, who smiled and waved at well-wishers.

Also attending the service today were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their son James – the Earl of Wessex, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank and Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. They were applauded by members of the crowd as they left.

The Prince and were not there as they were spending the weekend with their children in Norfolk. The Waleses, who have a country home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate, missed the annual service last year after Kate, who is now in remission, was diagnosed with cancer.

Andrew missed the royal family's traditional gathering at Sandringham last year amid the controversy surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy. He stepped down from public life after criticism over his friendship with convicted sex offender .

It followed his Newsnight interview in 2019 when he said he “did not regret” his friendship with Epstein and was heavily criticised for failing to show sympathy with the sex offender’s victims. The duke announced at the time he would be “stepping back from public duties for the foreseeable future” and disappeared from a string of high-profile national events involving the monarchy.