Games CUTIE

Charlotte scores maximum points for spectacular spectator participation

Princess Charlotte was the star of the show at the Commonwealth Games last week.

The cute seven-year-old joined her parents Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, both 40, for a sporting day out in Birmingham.

The royal threesome visited a programme supporting young athletes, where Charlotte confessed her favourite sport was gymnastics a fact confirmed by Kate, who said, "Charlotte spends most of her time upside-down, doing handstands and cartwheels."

The Cambridges - without -their sons Prince George, nine, and Prince Louis, four also took the opportunity to watch a hockey match between India and England, and the men's swimming heats.

Onlookers said Charlotte deserved her own medal for good behaviour, enthusiastically clapping and -gasping during moments of action, as her mum tucked some escaped locks of hair behind her daughter's ear.

While the Queen hasn't been able to make it, other senior royals have been out in full force for the Games.

Prince Charles did the officiating honours at the Opening Ceremony in place of the Queen and caused something of a stir when he drove into Birmingham's Alexander Stadium in his much-loved Aston Martin, which apparently has been converted to run on ethanol created from the by-products of cheese and wine-making.