Kate Middleton was greeted by excitable children and set time aside to chat with families as she visited Norfolk to open The Nook in Framingham Earl.

The-mother-of-three, who is a royal patron of East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH), joked that she was assisted by an ‘army of little helpers’ to unveil a plaque commemorating the event.

She showed off her maternal side as she asked schoolgirl Parslow-Williams if she was feeling cold and gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder, according to Hello!

In her ‘touching’ speech, she looked back over her time as royal patron, admitting a lot had changed since her marriage to Prince William.

She said: ‘The Nook is a realisation of a vision that began five years ago.

‘Thanks to immense generosity and support from all those who contributed to the Appeal, this state-of-the-art facility is fully operational and already making such a difference.

‘At the opening of the Treehouse Hospice many years ago (which I think I will remember for some years to come as it was my first ever speech), I referred to your hospices as being homes.

‘This visit today has only reinforced for me just what is at the heart of what you do here, throughout your work, and that is family.

‘You have created here at The Nook a nurturing, caring environment that allows families who are going through the unimaginable the ability to spend precious quality time with each other, comforted in the knowledge that their children are being looked after in the best possible way.’

‘EACH was one of the very first charities that I decided to become Patron of after my marriage.

‘Whilst a lot has changed since then, my commitment and support for this wonderful organisation and the work that you do has not.’

Kate then invited a group of four children who she named ‘my army of little helpers’ to assist her in unveiling the plaque.

As flashbulbs went off from the media, one child said: ‘Which camera should I look at?’

Kate laughed, before praising the group on how well they had done.

EACH was one of the first charities the Duchess of Cambridge adopted at the start of her new life as a royal.

The Nook at Framingham Earl will replace the Quidenham hospice, which is run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

The duchess undertook a tour of the facilities, including the hospice’s sensory room and also visited the hospice’s main care area.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Their care service includes specialist nursing care, symptom management nursing, short breaks, well-being activities, therapies, counselling and volunteer services in the family home.

The hospice is the result of a five-year public appeal to raise £10 million, as well as two years of building work.