Reading metadata from an ArcSDE Feature Class

I want to map the version last updated date from the metadata to a new field in the feature class.

 

 

When you save a feature class as an ESRI layer file it also creates an xml file in the same location.

 

 

Previously I would locate the feature class as a layer file saved in my local directory then read in the XML file using an XML reader, flatten the metadata and set the elements to match to 'metadata'

 

 

Then I can easily locate the attribute that contains the version date etc - and map this right over to a new field in a feature class.

 

 

But now where I have feature classes in SDE not saved as layer files I was wondering if there was any way of following this same process? How do I read that XML and after reading it, how would I carry out the xml flattening and elements to match when it is not using an XML reader?

 

 

 

Thanks