PRINCESS Kate is set to make a dazzling return to the red carpet at the 2025 Baftas in February, according to reports.

One of the most flirty moments between the Prince and Princess of Wales took place two years ago at the event – when Kate playfully tapped William’s bottom.

According to a body language expert, there was more to the rare PDA moment that met the eye.

Judi James told The Sun at the time: “Kate and William do look much less inhibited with their PDAs now they have moved up the royal pecking order.

“Last night’s bottom pat from Kate also showed where some of the power behind the scenes might lie.”

According to the expert, Kate did the cheeky touch in a bid to get William to hold her hand.

Judi claimed: “Kate’s pat was more than just a flirt signal.

“The gesture began when she appeared to raise her right hand with the thumb apart from the fingers to signal a desire to hold hands.

“William didn’t respond though, leaning to chat instead, and so Kate’s small pat or tap on the bum looked part-sexy, part playful reprimand for missing her non-verbal cue.”

Judi added that William seemed to enjoy the flirty moment as he sported a “cocked thumb”, which is a “classic male body language signal suggesting intense pleasure.”

She continued: “The couple looked totally relaxed and openly excited to be doing full glam on the red carpet.

“They used more eye contact than usual and their touch rituals had increased to create a suggestion of flirting.”

It was also suggested that Kate’s flirty moment could have been in response to Prince Harry’s claims at the time about “royal men marrying women who ‘fit into the mould.”

Judi added: “This seems to be Kate showing she should not be fitted into any mould, with her Hollywood-style glamour and her very cheeky gesture to her husband.”

According to the Mail, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) organisers are “pulling out all the stops” so Kate can return this year.

The Princess of Wales missed the 2024 event due to her health struggles, and Prince William walked the red carpet solo.

This year the event will take place on February 16, and BAFTA film committee chairman Anna Higgs is “very hopeful” Kate will be able to attend.

In September, Kate announced that she had finished her chemotherapy treatment and is focusing on remaining cancer-free.

Kate and William do look much less inhibited with their PDAs now they have moved up the royal pecking order

Judi JamesBody language expert

She said she was “looking forward” to being back at work and taking on a few more public engagements in the coming months.

William revealed Kate aims to step up her royal engagements in 2025.

He said: “I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so, we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up.”