Charm offensive
How do the Brits soften up Europe in the midst of pre-Brexit talks? Send in the Cambridge family, of course. And even though they were seen for barely 15 minutes in total, it was royal toddlers Prince George and Princess Charlotte who stole the show, writ
Those who question the point of the monarchy should take a close look at the brilliantly planned tour of Poland and Germany in July by the British government’s most powerful secret diplomatic weapon, the Cambridge family. The five-day visit was pertinently timed to “extend the hand of friendship” and show Britain’s desire to retain strong links with Europe. And at home it has prompted the Cambridges to be dubbed the nation’s “Brexit ambassadors”.
More than anything, though, the tour showed how expert both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have become as senior royals. Prince William has developed a statesmanlike gravitas while still managing to hang on to the warmth and affection of an approachable young dad that has made him so popular.
By his side, Duchess Catherine is equally impressive; charming, upbeat and so in sync – and obviously in love – with her Prince. It’s easy to see why the Queen has been so happy to hand over more duties to her grandson.>>
What this tour has also proved is how easily the dynamic duo can be overshadowed by their achingly cute offspring. Blond, doe-eyed Prince George and the rather wise-looking two-year-old Princess Charlotte spent most of the visit being cared for behind closed doors by their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. The royal siblings only appeared in public alongside their parents at airports. Yet they dominated the coverage on front pages around the globe.
Of course, we’ve seen it all before. When Princes William and Harry were lads, they stole the show, as did Prince Charles and Princess Anne, and the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) and Princess Margaret. There’s nothing more enchanting than a mischievous toddler. Yet there’s something very special about these two royals – the third and fourth in line to the throne.
Prince George, who turned four the day after he returned from the tour, is starting to show signs of tiring in front of the deafening clatter of camera shutters. It’s inevitable. For the young Prince, there is bound to be a growing realisation that this is his life from now on. His duty starts here and even though he’s still a young boy, the Prince is already working.
He was also photographed yawning, rubbing his eyes, pulling sulky faces and urging his dad, who was busy meeting and greeting, to move on, tugging on his hand. Yet, when Prince George was given a tour of the cockpit of the same model of helicopter Dad has flown with the Air Ambulance back in England, his sheer, unguarded
delight was utterly beguiling. “George was so excited,” said Antoine van Gent, the head of flight testing at Airbus in Hamburg. “He wanted to sit in the cockpit.” Those photos of George filled with glee melt your heart.
Up to this point, Princess Charlotte had been in charge. This was her second royal tour – the first was made last year to Canada – and Charlotte is certainly a natural. She received her own posy, smiled in the right places and even managed a debut royal curtsy. So when she had a tiny tantrum, throwing herself down on the tarmac in Germany, it simply increased her appeal, proving she is just like every other two-year-old.
Watching William and Kate manage their toddlers was its own lesson in parenthood and something we have rarely seen in public from royals – except, of course, from William’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, which added its own poignancy.
Only a few days after their return from the tour, Prince William appeared in a TV documentary celebrating the legacy of his mother, who died 20 years ago, giving rare insights into their mother-son relationship and what she had taught him.
“She set us up really well, she gave us the right tools,” William said.
“I do regularly, putting George and Charlotte to bed, talk about her... I want to make as much time and effort with Charlotte and George as I can because I realise that these early years particularly are crucial.”
If their children’s performance in Germany and Poland is anything to go by, it’s clear William and Kate are doing a stellar job.