Andrew appears in happy mood despite Royal Lodge move nearing

Former Prince Andrew appeared in better spirits during a horse-riding outing near Windsor Castle over the weekend.

The former Duke of York, who now goes by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was seen smiling and waving at a passing motorist while riding through the Berkshire estate.

According to a body language expert, he looked changed from his last appearance in late November, when he looked downcast and withdrawn.

Body language expert Judi James told The Mirror that the “disgraced” former royal’s confident wave suggested he was feeling more assured and upbeat than before.

"For anyone wondering if Andrew was in a sustained state of the kind of downcast body language he offered on his last public outing, where he was seen looking slumped and dejected on his horse as his companion gazed at him with what appeared to be a look of concern, these photos suggest he has rallied, sporting a hint of a jolly, smug-looking smile one minute and hailing a motorist with an authoritative and confident-looking wave the next,” James said.

She added, "His smile sees the corners of his mouth hiked up here, when they were pulled down on the last outing.

“He's also looking ahead rather than at the ground and his expression, with his chin pulled into his neck, gives the appearance of being far more jovial.

"The wave, with his lips clamped and his hand held high, makes him look happy to take control and much more confident than he did before."