Duchess of Cambridge joins youngsters on bug hunt at forest school
The Duchess of Cambridge helped children search for spiders and other "mini beasts" as part of her first official solo visit following her maternity leave.
Kate, whose youngest child Prince Louis is just over five months old, crouched in bushes with youngsters at the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden in Paddington.
The duchess told teachers at the school that she hunts for spiders "for hours" in her own garden with her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
When she arrived at Paddington Recreation Ground, Kate was presented with posies by four-year-old Janine from St Augustine’s Primary School on Kilburn Park Road.
The Duchess smiled and laughed with children from St Augustine’s as they completed a number of other activities, including seed planting, and helped children get water from the tap.
Kate also joined children from St Stephen’s CE Primary School as they listened to a story called The Monkey Queen, read to them by Sayers Croft forest school leader Jennie Miles.
Ms Miles enlisted the help of the duchess when handing out cups of juice to the youngsters and also distributing paper for children to make crowns with.
The duchess then helped the children find leaves for their crowns, before they lined up to say goodbye to her, shaking her hand and giving her a hug.
Zoe Stroud, the interim head at Sayers Croft, said the duchess “loved getting amongst the ivy” and spotted a frog.
Ms Stroud said: “The duchess asked parents questions about whether they found a change in their children, in their ability to work together, in their self esteem.”
She said the children knew who they were speaking to: "They’re not that shy, but they do know she’s a princess."
Ms Stroud added one of the youngsters referred to Kate as "your majesty".
Speaking about the work Sayers Croft school does, Ms Stroud said: "It’s really important for the schools and children who live in council flats and have no outside space at home".
The Duchess also met with Dr Paul Knapman, representative deputy lieutenant for The City of Westminster, who introduced her to members of the community.