The Princess of Wales laughed with youngsters on a nursery visit as one little boy dressed up as a builder stole the limelight with his determination to get in front of the cameras.
She visited Foxcubs Nursery in Luton where she met staff and discussed the role nurseries play in shaping development in early childhood on Wednesday.
The nursery children were encouraged to dress up and one boy, in a hard hat and carrying two toy drills, ran around the room on a mission to get in the photographs of the media covering the visit.
When Kate joined a group of children playing in a sandpit the three-year-old boy, named Ezaan, stood between the princess and the media with his arms outstretched and made her laugh.
The princess made masks with the children and was told by one little boy she was helping: “I think it’s very good – good job.”
Helping a staff member, the princess stuck a handle to a little girl’s mask and asked “Can you look through it?” then waved as the youngster held it up to her face.
The Royal Family are undertaking their regular duties as the controversy over Prince Harry‘s memoir Spare continues.
The princess also joined parents to speak about the support Foxcubs Nursery provides on a day-to-day basis and the long-term social and emotional development of their children.
The nursery, rated “Outstanding” by education watchdog Ofsted, is run by the Early Years Alliance, the biggest early years membership organisation in England.
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The alliance offers 70 places for local children aged between two and five.
The princess later sat down to chat with Neil Leitch, chief executive officer of the Early Years Alliance, and Foxcubs staff and praised the children: “They’re great kiddies, I had a nice little chat with them.”
She asked the staff about their experiences and speaking about the importance of nurseries told them: “I think we really saw that highlighted during the pandemic, I think families realised and communities realised, [when] these spaces were closed down for the majority of the time, I think everyone realised how vital they were.”
The Queen Consort spoke of happy memories in Scotland at Aberdeen University
Camilla’s ‘precious time’ with King
Also on a visit today was the Queen Consort, who spoke of the “precious time” she has spent in Scotland with the King on a visit to Aberdeen University’s new science teaching hub.
Addressing staff and students, she said: “Coming to this university, and to this city, has always felt a bit like coming home to me.”
Camilla, who was made chancellor of the university in 2013, said this was firstly because her father’s family “came from this part of Scotland”.
“Secondly,” she said, “my husband and I are lucky enough to spend precious time each year in Aberdeenshire.
“And finally, because 10 years ago I received the great honour of being installed as chancellor of this very special university.”
Since taking on the role, she said she has “watched with pride” as the university has “gone from strength to strength”, which made her achievements as chancellor seem “rather modest in comparison”.
She said: “I was told in 2013 that one element of my role was to defend the university so that ‘raven wolves do not invade the college and its flock’.”
She quipped it was “perhaps more by luck than judgment” that this has not happened yet.
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The Duke of Sussex’s memoir, published last week, has dominated worldwide media attention.
It reveals several intimate details about Harry’s own life, as well as his relationship with his father King Charles, brother William and other senior members of the Royal Family.
Spare has sold 750,000 across all formats – hardback, audio and e-book – in the UK since its publication on 10 January and was recently announced as the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever.
Senior members of the family have made no comments about the book since its release.
The Duke of Sussex also revealed he had enough material to write another book, saying his first draft was double the length of the published autobiography.
