Like any hands-on dad, the crown prince had prepared for any eventuality during their hiking expedition, carrying a backpack and a waterproof mat for making stops if needed.

He kept his hands free to guide their little boy along the snowy plain near the two hytte or cabins the royals bought last year in Uvdal, a picturesque ski resort three hours drive from their Oslo home.

The area, at the foot of Hardangervidda mountain range, is known for its blue skies, copious snowfall and a network of trails that criss-crosses the entire valley.

Asked on a US TV show what words of wisdom she’ll have on being introduced to Mrs Obama, Carla replied: “I must say she doesn’t need advice. It would be better for me to get advice from her!”.

Nicholas Sarkozy’s wife went on to pay tribute to the new president’s wife for the way she supported Mr Obama during his campaign. “She’s a great, strong, intelligent woman,” said model-turned-singer Carla.

As her French counterpart was looking forward to a new era in the executive mansion, Michelle, who describes herself as ‘Mom-In-Chief’ accompanied her daughters Sasha and Malia as they got the first glimpse of their new home.

During their tour the girls saw the bedrooms used by President Bush’s twins, Jenna and Barbara.

Mrs Obama wants to avoid significant changes to her daughters’ lives and has said they will still do chores like making their beds. “But I couldn’t help envisioning the girls running into their rooms and running down the hall with a dog,” she admitted during a TV interview.

In it Mr Obama paid tribute to his late mother, who sometimes woke him at 4.30am to go over his homework because that was all the time she had. He also spoke about the absence of his father, whom he has met only once, spending a month with him at the age of ten.

Though it’s not unusual for American politicians to purchase network coverage, Wednesday’s ‘infomercial’ was unprecedented in its scope, underlining the spending power of the candidate who raised $150 million in September alone.

Broadcast across seven networks, the advert appeared as the Illinois politician campaigned with former president Bill Clinton at a rally in Florida. In the last few minutes, the TV coverage even crossed over to link up with the Obama campaign live in the Sunshine state.

Making his first appearance for the man who beat his wife to the party nomination, Mr Clinton urged against complacency and declared: “We have so much promise and so much peril. This man should be our president.”

Charles, who was visiting the mountainous region of Nagano as part of a state visit to the country, was introduced to CW Nicol – the man responsible for the rejuvenation of the surrounding forest – and spent several minutes chatting to him about one the eco-conscious royal’s favourite subjects – environmentalism.

Mr Nicol – an Indiana Jones-like character who has fought game poachers in Ethiopia, lived with the Inuit in the Canadian Arctic and is a black belt in karate – bought the land 25 years ago when it was neglected scrub.

Since then he has gradually restored the area – which locals called the “ghost forest” – to its former glory. Today it is home to 100 species of tree, and numerous endangered species, including dormice, Japanese moon bears, civet cats, hares, raccoon dogs and foxes.

While Charles toured the 45-acre woodland, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall got a close look at how pet therapy is helping children in a Tokyo hospital. Camilla sat in on a session during which youngsters played with little dogs.

The royal couple are half way through a ten-day tour of East Asia. Highlights so far have included a taste of traditional Japan in the form of a trip to Nara, an ancient city in the west of the country where some of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples are located.

There was also a chance for Charles to see some of the country’s famed technology in action when he came face to face with dancing robot in Tokyo’s science museum.

Sarah was glamour personified in a velvet show-stopper with diamante detailing as she hosted the ball marking the 15th anniversary of her Children In Crisis foundation.

Her elder girl, meanwhile, had picked out a floor-length Grecian creation, the thistle colour of which perfectly offset her strawberry mane.

Their looks were further united by the addition of a Remembrance poppy prominently displayed on each bodice.

Fergie can take pride that since leaving school a year ago Bea has become more involved with her mum’s campaigning work. Most recently the 20-year-old royal accompanied the Duchess on a trip to Romania with undercover reporters investigating the conditions in state-run orphanages.

Rarely seen in public, petite, blonde Iman is couple’s second child and elder daughter. Now 12, she’s blossoming into a pretty youngster and, if her chic champagne gown and white coat are anything to go by, she’s inherited her mum’s renowned sense of style as well as the 38-year-old’s stunning looks.

At the French premiere the royal trio mingled with Daniel, his striking fiancée Satsuki Mitchell, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko and new Bond nemesis Mathieu Amalric

According to reports in French magazine Gala a lavish royal wedding is being planned for next summer. “The prince and Charlene are deeply in love and after two years together they want to make it official,” a palace insider is quoted as saying.

Since the couple’s first public outing at the 2006 Winter Olympics, the blonde athlete has convinced royal watchers she possesses the natural elegance and regal qualities associated with the principality’s first ladies.

Since leaving office in 2000, the former US premier has worked hard to do something tangible about worldwide problems he views as serious threats. He established the Clinton Global Initiative four years ago to draw attention to such issues.

Seated next to Mr Clinton, Queen Rania spoke passionately about an education programme she has overseen in Jordan to renovate more than 500 schools in five years. “Education is not just the responsibility of the government,” she said. “It’s everyone’s responsibility.”

Generating huge applause as he took to the stage to speak was Lance Armstrong. The sports star, who is planning a return to professional cycling and next year’s Tour de France, said his foundation will commit $8 million over the next five years to a global awareness campaign for cancer. He said he hoped his return to competition would continue to focus the spotlight on the disease, which he battled in 1996.

“Everyone knows I want to have children, kids are so sweet,” said the France-born royal, who is a loving stepmother to her husband’s boys, Nikolai and Felix.

She added: “It’s a private matter. But there are always reports that I’m pregnant every week, so perhaps they’ll be right one day.”

In the meantime Marie has plenty on her plate picking up the reins of her new role. This includes choosing which charities she’ll support and adjusting to life in the rural environs of the couple’s Schackenborg Castle home, which lies 250 kilometres from Copenhagen in South Jutland.

Luckily, the former city girl’s closeness to her new husband means that’s been relatively easy. “It’s perfect being with him all day. We’re good friend and that’s the best. That’s why you get married.”

At the moment the British monarch’s annual Civil List payment – which is negotiated with the government every ten years to fund the running of the monarchy- stands at £7.9 million. It has not increased in two decades, but officials say they have enough cash to cover shortfalls until they can reopen negotiations to raise the amount in 2010.

“Like so many we have been hit by rising costs, but fortunately our reserves adequately cover the extra expenditure we are now facing,” a spokesperson tells the Daily Mail. “When the time comes we will, of course, be hoping for an increase – after all there are few people who haven’t had a pay rise for 20 years.”