Catherine has attracted attention, not for her outfit, but for her finger length. Photo / Getty Images
Catherine has attracted attention, not for her outfit, but for her finger length. Photo / Getty Images
As one of the most photographed women in the world, the Duchess of Cambridge's every outfit and accessory is scrutinised.
But it was Kate's hands - and not her elegant cream ensemble - that generated the most attention this week, when the 36-year-old paid a visit to a primary schoolin Oxford.
Photographs taken of the pregnant mother-of-two indicate that, unusually, the central three fingers of her hands are almost the same length, the Daily Mail reported.
Most people's middle fingers are noticeably longer than their index or fourth fingers.
The royal looked stylish in a cream coat and a smart pair of brown heels as she was greeted by flag-waving pupils at the school, which is part of an innovative charity programme to support emotional health and wellbeing.
The royal looked stylish in a cream coat but all eyes were on her fingers. Photo / Getty Images
And as she gripped onto her smart black clutch, observers noted that Kate's fingers appear to be the same length.
In the past, scientists have linked the so-called 'digit ratio' to a whole host of seemingly unrelated traits.
For example, it was noted by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research that men whose index fingers are longer than their ring fingers are significantly less likely to develop prostate cancer.
A long index finger also correlates strongly with a lower risk of early heart disease, and, in women, a higher risk of breast cancer and greater fertility.
People with relatively long index fingers have also been found to be more likely to suffer from schizophrenia, allergies, eczema and hay fever.
Scientists have linked the so-called 'digit ratio' to a whole host of seemingly unrelated traits. Photo / Getty Images
On her visit to the school, Kate met with parents to hear more about how their families have overcome challenges with the support of Family Links.
The charity integrates emotional health support into pupils' education at the school, and their entire families are supported through a range of workshops.
Pregnant Kate is completing her final engagements ahead of the birth of her third child in April.
And royal sources are predicting that the baby could well arrive on the patron saint of England's feast day on the 23rd.
"There's no certainty with due dates of course but the Duchess is working off a date around St George's Day and it would be a lovely patriotic coincidence if he or she were born then," a source told The Sun.
If the royal baby does arrive on the feast day, it could reignite calls for 23rd April to become a public holiday.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry's wife-to-be Meghan Markle has topped a list of the most attractive female members of the British royal family.
The bride-to-be came the closest to scoring 100 per cent based on the 'golden ratio', which is said to reveal "perfect" physical beauty.
Harley Street surgeon Dr Julian De Silva mapped the 36-year-old's face and compared it to Kate, Zara Phillips, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who came in places two to five, respectively.
Dr De Silva explained that Meghan had an almost perfect nose and that her eye position is "exactly right".
In a close second was the Duchess of Cambridge, who scored 86.8 per cent.
