People do that everywhere. It's just more noticable when you are at a nude beach

Concealed knife hidden in small of their back?

I've notices that British men often place one foot in front of the other when they walk . .

I DO NOT walk with my hands behind my back.

I walk with my hands in front of me--one hand holding a martini glass and the other holding a bottle of Xanax.

Thingorjus

I think Kate is correct. I think it's just something to do with his hands rather than dangling at the sides, and hands in pockets is not seen as proper. However, since we see this only when he is filmed or on TV or something, it's possible he only does it in that case, not when he's walking around in private.

Prevalent behaviour in garden centres. All that leaning forward to peer at things. If you don't do this your arms either swing forward weirdly or if you keep them by your side you look like you are bowing to the plants!

Japanese men walking

http://tinyurl.com/5m8zx5

Spanish men walking

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/...9fcbd0.jpg?v=0

Frenchmen walking

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/17...71f618.jpg?v=0

Italian men walking

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/travel/im...eman-italy.jpg

I remember reading in Michael Caine's autobiography that he based his character in 'Zulu' on Prince Philip. He mentioned that Philip always walked with hands behind his back, something that you do when you don't have to protect yourself.

That was his theory, at least.

I've got a book about body language somewhere and seem to remember that the hands behind back thing was the sign of an alpha male.

Whew!
I thought it was going to be the annual silly season "British men are useless" thing.
One year, it was some daft French burd who said that we were all homosexuals because we didn't wolf-whistle her.
I think that last year, it was the 15 year old daughter of the American ambassador who didn't fancy British boys.
Mrs J. muttered that the ambassador should have put the precocious little madam across his knee.

zeppole, I loved those photos. All around the world some do, some don't.

leely2,

Sounds like a hit song

All around the world
Some do
Some don't

MissPrism wrote: "I've got a book about body language somewhere and seem to remember that the hands behind back thing was the sign of an alpha male."

The book might have suggested that, but I don't think it is wholly right. I think it means that the male feels secure, safe from any threat. That is a wider category than alpha males; it includes protected individuals.

I rather suspect that neither Philip nor Charles is a true alpha male.

I'm disappointed that all British men don't walk like the Ministry of Silly Walks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w

Some of this is regional - not national.

I've noticed the behind the bak thing - and thought people were imitating the royals.

Here we need our hands - they help us talk. But - I've noticed the British don't seem to gesture that much - and even in certain parts of the US the hands seem oddly quiet when people are in animated conversations.

>>I've noticed the British don't seem to gesture that much<<

I think that's probably true - most of what gestures there can be, tend to be rather rude. Certainly I don't know a politician who knows what to do with their hands when making a speech (no suggestions from CW, please....)

We walk with our hands behind our backs to show others that we aren't going to rip their throat out. It's also why we queue and say "thankyou" and "sorry" a lot

See A.A Gill's "The Angry Island" - where the bit about War Memorials is very good & very accurate