Germany rolls out the red light carpet: Eyebrows raised as Princess Eugenie drives through a stop sign on royal visit… but it's revealed police waved her through

As royals, they are perhaps used to having the red carpet laid out for them on official visits.
But Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie looked to have come up with their own take on royal protocol during an official visit to Berlin today when their car, driven by Eugenie, went through a red light.
Witnesses who had gathered to watch the royals were shocked to see their Mini, which was emblazoned with the Union flag, skip the red traffic light, but it was later revealed they were waved through by police.
The royal sisters are working on the Great Campaign - a global initiative to attract visitors, business and students to the UK.

 

The sisters drove the Union Jack-branded Mini the short distance to the British Embassy on the beginning of its journey around Germany highlighting the best of British

Princess Eugenie takes the wheel as the royal sisters head through Berlin

Princess Beatrice waves to the crowd as the Mini is slowly driven through Berlin

The Princesses drove the Mini through a red light near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate on their short journey to the British Embassy this afternoon.
With photographers and police in tow, driver Eugenie and her older sister Beatrice then took a swift right into the safety of the British embassy compound.
But the royals had not embarrassed their hosts, they had been waved through by German officers who had also blocked off part of the road.

 

The Queen is known to drive herself around her private estates and Philip was famed for jumping behind the wheel of a black cab he owned, which meant he went unnoticed on the streets of London.
Beatrice had earlier delivered her speech at the British Embassy in Berlin and began by speaking in German: 'Guten Tag, meine Damen und Herren. Wir freuen uns beide, hier in Berlin zu sein.'
This translates as 'Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We are both thrilled to be here in Berlin.'

Princess Beatrice joined in with an art class and spoke to pupils at the Berlin British School

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice joined in with the school assembly

The sisters also unveiled a plaque in their honour proclaiming that they had visited the school

The Royal Family have strong ties with Germany as Queen Victoria's mother was German, as was her husband Prince Albert.
The Princess highlighted how the Mini - a British product now manufactured by German firm BMW Group - was an example of British and German expertise combining.

Following in the foot steps of their father Prince Andrew - dubbed 'Airmiles Andy' because of all his free flights when he was UK trade envoy - the princesses were launching the Great Britain Mini tour across Germany, a trip which will showcase the very best of British - from culture and technology to music and innovation.
The royals are travelling around Berlin attending a range of events, from a fashion fair to support the British textile industry to meeting the UK team of a German online shop.
Beatrice, 24, said to work for a venture capital firm, and Eugenie, 22, who is completing a series of work placements, will spend Friday in Hanover highlighting the heritage and knowledge elements of the Great Campaign.
The royal sisters will attend the reopening of Herrenhausen palace, meet members of the Lower Saxony and Hanover administrations, and visit other historical sites.

At the British School Beatrice was questioned by cheeky youngster Alex Cunningham about the famous Philip Treacy hat that she wore to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding

Beatrice described the fanciful creation complete with descriptive hand gestures

The princesses promote the importance of education to the pupils of the British Berlin school

Princess Eugenie of York chatted to the pupils who lined the corridors waving Union Jack flags

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: 'They were asked to do it by Number 10 to support the Great Britain campaign and they were happy to do it.
'It's all about raising awareness of the UK as a great place to visit or do business with.'
She added that Beatrice and Eugenie's father, the Duke of York, will pay for their travel expenses from his private funds.
At the British School Beatrice was questioned by one pupil about the famous Philip Treacy hat, dubbed a turkey twizzler, that she wore to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding.
Beatrice, who later sold the hat for charity for £81,000, described in detail the design to 8-year-old Alex Cunningham.
She revealed that she had not seen Mr Treacy's creation before the wedding day in April 2011 and confessed it had been difficult to wear as every time she moved it wobbled.
At the time it attracted derision, mirth and utter bafflement from royal watchers, who also compared it to a toilet seat and a giant pretzel.

Once upon a time there was a princess who lived happily ever after... Princess Eugenie sits in on story time

The princesses sign the guest book and Princess Beatrice holds up her name... written in hieroglyphics

Pupils have plenty of questions for Princess Eugenie at the Berlin British School