The Times We Lived In: Ladies first as little princess leads the way at the Áras

‘Let’s walk this way.”

“Okay, but don’t fall – sure you won’t?”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Monsieur. I’m a big girl now. I’ll be seven on my next birthday. And also, I’m a princess and my mother is the most photographed woman on the planet and I’ve probably done more photoshoots than you have. So chill out already, just follow me, and we’ll be fine.”

Such was the excitement at the visit of Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco to Ireland in 1963 that there is an extensive photographic record of the event: Grace and her family arriving at Dublin airport; relaxing at Carton House; visiting her grandfather’s home at Drumurla, Co Mayo.

But this particular photograph, which shows a confident Princess Caroline striding across the lawn at Áras an Uachtaráin, followed by a slightly anxious-looking Dev, was not published in The Irish Times's spread on the visit.

It’s a sight for sore eyes: the gangly seven-year-old, her sailor suit immaculate, looking every inch the royal pro as she leads the even ganglier head of state – to the obvious amusement of the security man who’s trying to keep his arms folded and his face straight as the pair process across the grass.

The fact that Rainier père and mère, plus the then-toddling Prince Albert, are out of shot simply adds to the charm.

As for President de Valera, a man who was more at home with electromagnetic spectroscopy than be-plaited visiting sprogs, he has his right hand raised in the sort of grandfatherly gesture with which we don’t, it must be said, often associate him. Clearly, even Dev wasn’t about to mess with this pocket-sized princess.