A body language expert analyzed the couple’s wedding photos and shared a few hot takes.

Years after Princess Diana and King Charles (who was Prince Charles at the time) tied the knot on July 29, 1981, the late royal went on record and called her wedding “the worst day of my life” (footage of this moment was included in the documentary Diana: In Her Own Words). Ahead of that statement, Diana explained that, “I don’t think I was happy,” but also noted that she never tried to call off the duo’s nuptials (however fraught their relationship, Diana did love her husband and regularly affirmed this). Though Diana’s words and feelings can and should be taken at face value, there’s further proof that her wedding day was a challenging experience: Body language expert Judi James recently weighed in and told The Sun that she noticed several “red flags” about their relationship in the photos.

“This ‘fairy-tale’ event was later described by Diana as ‘the worst day of my life’ and there are clues to her powerful but conflicting emotions,” James affirmed. “Even if we take away the royal theme, Diana’s wedding day had red flags flapping about like bunting in the breeze.” The expert touched on Diana’s big-day arrival at St. Paul’s Cathedral, explaining that she looked shy and hesitant; James commented on Diana’s “anxious” body language (she was hunched over and her expression was tight), which apparently eased during the rest of the ceremony (she smiled comfortably under her veil at the altar, while Charles remained stone-faced).

Getty Images / Princess Diana Archive / Stringer

After the couple’s ceremony ended though, things took a turn—and reached a peak during the couple’s post-nuptial carriage ride. According to the outlet, Charles turned his back on his bride to engage with the crowds, which is when Diana leaned forward and stretched her neck; her expression was troubled (and not at all reflective of what you’d expect to see from a blushing bride). This pose suggests that she wanted her husband’s attention and felt particularly vulnerable when she didn’t get it, per James’ analysis.

The new bride was also particularly reserved on the famed royal balcony after the event, James noted. Per the expert, she gravitated towards the children (and even held their hands instead of Charles’); she kept her head tucked down and shared a few shy smiles with the crowd. The kiss she gave Charles during this moment, however, tells a slightly different story: The way she threw her head back and arched into her new husband indicates a sense of surrender—and a willingness to trust him implicitly, per the expert.

According to James, Diana’s body language throughout the entirety of her wedding day indicated that she felt alone, anxious, and unsure—but that she very much wanted to feel otherwise. In fact, the late princess wanted the public (and her children) to know that she and Charles did love and cherish each for a period, despite their issues. “She really wanted people to know that she loved Charles and he loved her,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward said, according to The Times. And I always remembered that. And she wanted the boys to know that. There was a period of great love between them.”