The Princess of Wales melted hearts on Thursday after she made a highly unusual move during her visit to South Wales.
Princess Kate met youngsters at the Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice after she was named its patron before she headed to her second engagement of the day.
Kate, who confirmed earlier this month she is in remission from cancer, then visited the Welsh knitwear and sock manufacturer Corgi in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, to shine a light on British industry.
But as she was departing the Corgi factory, the future Queen stopped her convoy to speak to a young girl who had called out to her.
The move is highly unusual, as royal convoys rarely stop after they have left an engagement, and the princess must have felt an imperative to ask the driver to let her get out.
The young girl, named Lily-Rose Logan, three, had been calling out “hello princess” and when the the royal approached, she handed yer a yellow toy banana.
Addressing Lily-Rose, Kate said: “I heard you say ‘hello’ from all the way back there and I wanted to come and see you.”
As Kate handed Lily-Rose back her banana the young girl threw it on the floor and the Princess of Wales had to bend down to retrieve it.
The youngster’s mother, Stacey Chorley, 39, told the news agency agency: “It was so exciting, we had no idea that was going to happen.
“I hope this is one of the things Lily-Rose will remember.
“Kate was so lovely, she’s very natural and down to earth.”
Corgi was founded in 1892 by the current co-owner’s great-great grandfather, who started by making socks for miners and now sells products in 34 countries.
The firm, which has the Royal Warrant, has made numerous items for the family, including for King Charles.