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Princess Charlotte steals show on Royal tour with curtsy and handshake as she receives posy of flowers

While her two-year-old peers are busy playing at nursery or getting to grip with their Play-Doh, Princess Charlotte is already beginning to master the art of international diplomacy.

The Princess put on a show worthy of her great-grandmother the Queen today, bobbing into a curtsy, shaking hands with a defence attaché and graciously accepting a miniature bouquet of flowers.

 Princess Charlotte - Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
Princess Charlotte with her posy of flowers at Berlin airport Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty

While her brother Prince George rubbed his eyes in the bright sunlight, Princess Charlotte was allowed to toddle along the red carpet on her tiptoes, appearing to emulate her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, in high heels.

Prince George rubs his eyes in the bright sunlight - Credit: Steffi Loos/AFP
Prince George rubs his eyes in the bright sunlight at Berlin airport Credit: Steffi Loos/AFP

They were greeted on the tarmac with three flags: the union flag flying between the black, red and yellow of Germany, and the blue and yellow stars EU.

The Royals were met by the British ambassador, Sir Sebastian Wood, and his wife Lady Sirinat, German government representative Till Knorn, deputy head of mission Nick Pickard, defence attaché Brigadier Rob Rider, and royal visit coordinator Peter Ruskin.

The Cambridges arrive at Tegel airport in Berlin - Credit: Steffi Loos/REUTERS
The Cambridges arrive at Tegel airport in Berlin Credit: Steffi Loos/REUTERS

The Royal children departed from Warsaw after two days in Poland, accompanying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they thanked their hosts at the airport.

Prince George appeared desperate to get on the plane, tugging his father's hand and tapping his arm to get his attention.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte leave Warsaw, Poland, as they head to Germany - Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Prince George and Princess Charlotte preparing to board the plane in Warsaw, Poland Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA
The Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte - Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Princess Charlotte takes her mother's hand in Warsaw Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Princess Charlotte, who was also initially straining at her mother's hand to get moving, remembered her manners to pause for a quick thank you, crossing her ankles and bobbing into a curtsy.

Determined to show off her independence, she let go of the Duchess' guiding hand to scramble up the plane steps on her hands and feet.

Princess Charlotte falls over as he gets on the plane with her mother - Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Princess Charlotte takes a tumble he she boards the plane with her mother Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA

When the Cambridges arrived in Warsaw, the Prince, who will turn four on Saturday, was again first off the plane, looking reluctant and sleepy after the journey.

Charlotte, on the other hand, stepped happily into the limelight in Berlin, shaking hands with Brigadier Rob Rider, defence attaché at the British Embassy.

She looked delighted as she was offered a mini posy of flowers by Till Knorn, representing the German government.

The Duchess received a matching larger bouquet, with mother and daughter coordinating in blue outfits as they walked side by side in the blazing sunshine.

In Berlin, William and Kate were holding a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel before visiting the Brandenburg Gate, the German capital's most famous landmark and a symbol of the country's unification.

After a day of touring, they will return to the west of the city and meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace, and in the evening attend a Queen's birthday party held in the gardens of the British ambassador's residence.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte join Royal Tour of Poland and Germany, in pictures
Prince George and Princess Charlotte join Royal Tour of Poland and Germany, in pictures

On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge described a visit to a former Nazi concentration camp in Poland as "shattering".

Saying they were "intensely moved" by the trip, they urged all to ensure their experience is "never forgotten and never repeated".

The Duchess of Cambridge described the visit as 'shattering' - Credit: BRUCE ADAMS
The Duchess of Cambridge described the visit as 'shattering' Credit: BRUCE ADAMS

The Duke and Duchess visited Stutthof during their five day tour of Germany and Poland, working to "draw attention to the need to teach young people about this tragic episode in our shared memory", the Holocaust Educational Trust said.

During their visit, The Duke and Duchess were shown discarded shoes, clothing and other personal items stolen from prisoners, and a gas chamber.  

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are shown discarded shoes, clothing and other personal items at the camp museum - Credit: Andrew Parsons / i-Images
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are shown discarded shoes, clothing and other personal items at the camp museum Credit: Andrew Parsons / i-Images

Later in the day, the Duke and Duchess were mobbed by thousands of wellwishers as they visited the town market in Gdansk.

Serenaded by a choir, they shook hands with admirers, waved at the crowd and sampled local dumplings and a traditional Gdansk liqueur the Duchess pronounced "very strong".

The final event of the day, which had been defined by huge crowds exhibiting "royal mania", saw the Duke and Duchess visit the European Solidarity Centre, in Gdansk’s shipyards.

The birthplace of the Solidarity Movement in Poland, they were given a tour by former President Lech Walesa and photographed walking through the famous shipyard gates.

Crowds once again turned out to get a glimpse of them, waving flags and wielding mobile phones to capture their rare moment in the presence Royalty.

Duchess of Cambridge: every outfit ever
Duchess of Cambridge: every outfit ever