I don't know that I've been correctly taught about the behavior of lions.
But I've been taught that it is a custom that the queens feed the Kings.

So....I've imagined that when he waves his paw...that's just to get her attention.
When he gets her attention he says..."I'm hungry."

Now he peeks up at her...and sees that she' s on the look-out for food for him.
So he licks his chops in anticipation of the dinner treat that she has in store for him.

And he trusts in his queen because......
"HE KNOWS THAT HE'D BETTER."