Kate Goes Camping In Kent

The Duchess of Cambridge was in Kent at the weekend, to see the work of an outdoor residential centre.

Kate donned green Burberry wellies as she mucked in with children from inner-city backgrounds who built tents and made campfires at Widehorizons' Margaret McMillan House in Wrotham,

For most of the children, from a school in London, aged eight and nine, it was their first time to the countryside.

Looking relaxed and happy, Kate chatted to Zahid Shanvere, eight, and Faith Kalala, nine, who showed her the teepees where they had all slept on Saturday night.

Kate asked whether the children had been scared that a spider might come into the teepee but Zahid said that he was more worried that a mole might have made its way inside. When showing the Duchess into the teepee, he said: "Ladies first.'' To which Kate replied: "Such a gentleman. Thank you.''

After chatting inside the teepee for several minutes, Zahid and Faith then walked the Duchess into the woods, where all the other children were building tents out of bits of wood and tarpaulin, making campfires and learning about what they would need to survive.

Kate met several groups of children and asked them about their weekend before sitting around a large campfire and learning how to make dough sticks.

After thanking the children for having her, the Duchess walked with them to the barn where they enjoyed lunch before the she left the centre.

Alpha Kolajo, nine, said he had spoken to Kate about what he loved best about camping and about how it had helped him and his friends.

He said: "We asked her a few questions, like how many countries she had been to. She said she had been to a few but not as many as William.''

Tigerlily Smith, eight, said: ``I asked her what it was like to be a princess. She said she gets treated very well and William is very sweet and kind and spoils her.''

Niall Leyden, head of the centre, said this was only the second royal visit to the facility. He said the first was when the centre was opened in 1936 by the then Duke of York, who went on to become King George VI.

He said: "The children seemed remarkably relaxed about having a royal visitor as they were about the whole weekend. We ran the whole weekend as we would have normally. Her Royal Highness was relaxed and lovely with the children. She got involved and helped them with their camps.''