PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images(LONDON) — After five days of city hopping through Poland and Germany with his family, Prince George stole the spotlight on Friday from Prince William, Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte.
George, who will celebrate his fourth birthday on Saturday, had been a bit sleepy and shy as his parents shuttled him from city to city on the five-day royal tour but he could not conceal his excitement on Friday as he stepped into the cockpits of two helicopters.
George saw the helicopters as the royals toured the Airbus facility in Hamburg on their final day in Germany.
Watch George and Charlotte having fun on a helicopter at Airbus today pic.twitter.com/QOEasCfSmk
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2017
George, who never misses a chance to watch his father and his uncle, Prince Harry, both helicopter pilots, depart Kensington Palace on the royal helicopter, was in his element.
George and Charlotte join in to explore an EC145 helicopter – the same one The Duke of Cambridge flies with @EastAngliAirAmb pic.twitter.com/XzI2tZxTUA
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2017
Charlotte, 2, who has charmed the crowds with her natural diplomacy — including ducking into a curtsy earlier this week — took a tumble and needed some reassurance from her parents on Friday.
She rubbed her eyes and quickly recovered, and both children were dancing about as they received gifts from their German hosts. The Cambridges were given a royal send-off by officials, including Airbus Helicopter CEO Wolfgang Shoder.
Earlier in the day, William and Kate, both 35, paid a visit to Hamburg’s new Elbharmonie Symphony Hall, where they met with 250 children enrolled in a music immersion education program in Germany’s second largest city.
When asked about her exposure to music, Kate, wearing a lavender bespoke Emilia Wickstead dress, revealed she played flute, “throughout my school years until the age of 18.”
Kate, obviously able to read music, had a hand with the conductor’s baton, directing the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra in a rendition of Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony.
Watch The Duchess have a go at conducting the @Phil_Hamburg orchestra at @elbphilharmonie pic.twitter.com/mLkXxJ22x7
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2017
It wouldn’t be a royal tour without a walkabout and William and Kate did not disappoint as they held an unscheduled meet-and-greet with around 3,000 of Hamburg’s residents who came out to try and catch a glimpse of the royal couple. A group of well-wishers even asked about George’s upcoming birthday.
Thank you to everyone who came to say hello outside the Elbphilarmonie! pic.twitter.com/nPaJIuF2QS
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2017
William joked in reply, “George has got a big tummy. He’ll probably end up eating all his cake himself.”
In an impromptu addition to their planned visit to Hamburg’s Maritime Museum, William and Kate tried a recently installed cargo ship simulator. William took the helm joking that perhaps he might hit one of the other yachts in the harbor.
At the Maritime Museum The Duke and Duchess meet scientists who are celebrating the UK-German year of science, which is focused on oceans pic.twitter.com/5NCr90VE26
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2017
The museum exhibition administrator in charge of the simulator reminded William, as Kate sounded the fog horn, that William will be the future King of England but his wife is still sometimes the boss.
“He is just the helmsman,” the administrator, Hans Trey, told Kate as William steered the ship simulator. “You are the captain.”
We had an incredible time in Poland and Germany. Thank you
to everyone who made the visit so special! #RoyalVisitPoland #RoyalVisitGermany pic.twitter.com/0sjUrcFJQM— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2017
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