Meet Kate Middleton's cousin, the Queen of Burlesque

With the patriotic tones of Rule Britannia ringing out and a fur-trimmed crown atop the young lady’s head, you might think a princess has entered the room. Think again.

For the centre of attention in this scene is not Prince William’s bride-to-be Kate Middleton, but her cousin Katrina Darling.

And things take a somewhat less-than-regal turn as the 20-year-old blonde begins seductively to shed her Union Flag dress.

Katrina Darling’s signature act, aptly titled God Save The Queen, ends with her attired in nothing more than red nipple tassels and a barely-there thong

Miss Darling is a burlesque dancer and her signature act, aptly titled God Save The Queen, ends with her attired in nothing more than red nipple tassels and a barely-there thong.

It is the Royal Family’s closest brush with ‘soft porn’ since Prince Andrew’s love interest Koo Stark appeared naked in an erotic film.

Her role in the risque movie, Emily, famously ended the 18-month relationship after the Palace deemed her unsuitable.

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So one wonders what ‘the firm’ would make of Miss Darling’s act which, although arguably patriotic, is unlikely to secure an invitation to the royal wedding.

The dancer had no idea she was related to Miss Middleton when she created her regal striptease last year.

But it has since emerged from her family tree that the pair are second cousins, once removed, with her grandmother Jane Darling being sister to Miss Middleton’s great-grandfather Thomas Harrison.

The 20-year-old dancer had no idea she was related to Miss Middleton when she created her regal striptease

But it has since emerged from her family tree that the pair are second cousins, once removed

And while her soon-to-be-royal cousin attended the elite Marlborough College and courted a prince, Miss Darling has been working the cabaret scene in Sunderland for the past two years.

As Miss Middleton ponders which palace to make her home with Prince William, Miss Darling lives with her parents Eric, 65, and Maureen Darling, 54, in a semi-detached house.

She decided she wanted to be a burlesque dancer when she was 17.

Miss Darling, dressed here in regal headgear, has been working the cabaret scene in Sunderland for the past two years

‘I sneaked in to watch a burlesque show and knew that was what I wanted to do,’ she said.

‘Two weeks after my 18th birthday I did my first performance with the Sunderland dance troupe Coquette Collective.

‘After a few shows I realised I wanted to do it as a career and got some more acts together. I don’t get nervous at all because I’m used to being on stage. I don’t need a stage name or alter-ego. I perform as myself.’

Dubbed the ‘North-East’s original Cheesecake Sex Pistol’ on posters for her performance, she is the latest of the Middleton family to raise eyebrows with her behaviour.

Gary Goldsmith, Kate’s 45-year-old uncle, brought shame on the family when a Sunday newspaper showed him supplying undercover journalists with drugs and introducing them to a pimp in July 2009.

In one of Miss Darling’s acts, she covers herself in balloons and then pops them one-by-one to reveal a sexy outfit beneath.

Other props include fire jets and an eight-foot python.

Her mother told the Mail: ‘Katrina has been doing burlesque dancing for the past couple of years.

‘It started as a hobby but now she does it part-time while she’s in between jobs. She likes the comedy side of burlesque.

‘I suppose Kate Middleton might be quite surprised to hear what Katrina does.’

Miss Darling also has a half-sister Rachel, 28, a teacher, younger sister Emma, 18, a student, and brother Daniel, 17.

Her father was a dispenser at an optician’s until he was made redundant in 2002 and now distributes mail-order catalogues.

Kate Middleton is currently pondering which palace to make her home with Prince William, while Miss Darling lives with her parents Eric, 65, and Maureen Darling, 54, in a semi-detached house

Miss Darling, who recently dyed her hair from bleached blonde to bright orange, has toured the country with her Dita Von Teese-style show.

It is even possible members of her new extended family may have seen the petite performer in action, as several younger members of the Royal Family have sampled the burlesque scene in recent months.

Prince Harry, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and Zara Phillips have all been photographed emerging from The Box, in Soho, which features semi-naked dancers and fetish performers.