Being a veteran of royal tours, the Prince of Wales is well versed in the correct form for what to say to people when introduced. “Hello, who are you?” is a good starter, usually followed by: “Where do you come from? And what do you do?”

There is, however, no etiquette for dealing with robots, not even polite ones who greet one with a friendly “Konnichi-wa”, Japanese for hello. Which is why the Prince forgot his normally immaculate manners yesterday and completely ignored a small fellow called Asimo.

Asimo is not just any robot, but a walking, talking, running box of tricks, billed as the most advanced humanoid robot of his generation. He also comes from one of Japan’s longest established robot families, with a lineage that can be traced all the way back to 1986.

The encounter between Prince and robot — a white, space-helmeted creation standing about 4ft tall, whose name is an acronym for advanced steps in mobility — took place at the Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo on the first full day of the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall’s official tour of Japan. The five-day visit, which is emphasising trade links with Japan, marks the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It will be followed by trips to Brunei and Indonesia.

Asimo was determined to attract the Prince’s attention. And the Prince, no doubt mindful of the photographers, was in turn determined to have nothing to do with him. The robot waved, said hello and cocked his head in an endearing manner. The Prince gave him the briefest of glances, and carried on listening to his guide, the museum director, Mamoru Mohri, Japan’s first man in space.

It was only when Asimo danced — the staff called it his Samurai dance, although with Asimo’s Seventies moves, Travolta dance might have been more accurate — that the Prince finally laughed. Asimo stood on one leg, delighted to have got a response.

The Prince was seemingly more at home with Japanese traditions of an earlier vintage. At a visit to Keio University he saw a display of traditional kabuki theatre. The Prince and Duchess seemed to enjoy the 12-minute performance, although whether they would have been as happy to sit through a full Kabuki show, which lasts a whole day, is another matter.

Afterwards they witnessed kendo, a martial art that involves a lot of screaming. The Prince was handed a sword. He waved it around rather half-heartedly, then looked rather relieved when he gave it back.

For the Prince one of the highlights of the day was the speech that he gave at Miraikan about climate change. Calling for a “low-carbon” society, he said that developed countries should cut their carbon emissions by 70 to 80 per cent by 2050. Later the Prince and Duchess had a private dinner with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace.

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