The Duchess of Cambridge shared a laugh with Ant and Dec this afternoon after she was surprised by the presenting duo at a charity event.
Kate Middleton, 39, donned a pleated scarlet midi skirt and a matching fitted turtleneck for the engagement at the BAFTA headquarters in Piccadilly, accessorising with towering Ralph Lauren point toe pumps and a £295 micro-handbag from DeMellier.
As the royal arrived at the event, she was whisked into a room and rounded the corner to bump into the TV presenters and singer Tom Walker, confessing: ‘I wasn’t expecting that!’
While Ant and Dec laughed, confessing they felt as though they were ‘hiding at a surprise birthday party’, the Duchess clutched her hand to her chest, adding: ‘I felt like I was walking into a Bushtucker trial!’
As the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, arrived at a charity event today, she was whisked into a room and rounded the corner to bump into the TV presenters and singer Tom Walker where they were waiting, confessing: ‘I wasn’t expecting that!’
Kate Middleton joked that she felt as though she were about to ‘take part in a Bushtucker Trial’ from the presenting duo’s show I’m A Celebrity…
As the Duchess entered the room, she appeared caught off-guard by the placement of the group, with the room erupting into laughter as she stepped back in surprise.
Meanwhile Ant and Dec playfully exclaimed: ‘Surprise!’
After Kate joked she felt as though she were about to ‘take part in a trial’, the group continued to laugh, with Dec adding: ‘We can arrange that!’
Kate declined the offer, and after sharing a chuckle with the trio quickly regained her composure, saying: ‘Oh sorry – how are you, lovely to meet you and see you again.’
While Ant and Dec laughed, confessing they felt as though they were ‘hiding at a surprise birthday party’, the Duchess appeared to have been caught off-guard
The group shared a laugh together as the TV presenting duo told the Duchess they ‘could arrange’ a Bushtucker Trial for her
After being asked if she was ‘alright’, she added: ‘Good thankyou, what an amazing event!’
Ant and Dec present the long-running TV series I’m A Celebrity…in which British stars take part in the trials, which include contestants competing to eat the most disgusting parts of animals or racing across huge obstacle courses in the sky.
While it is unknown if the Duchess has seen the programme before, she previously spoke with one of the show’s winners Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast.
The Duchess went on to speak to Ant about his addiction battle at the charity event in London.
Ant, 45, who struggled with drug and alcohol dependency before entering rehab following a 2018 drink drive crash, told the Duchess he was in a ‘bad’ place by the time he sought help. ‘But as soon as you open up to people, problems have got to disappear,’ he said. ‘It gets better and help is there.’
The Duchess went on to speak to Ant about his addiction battle at the charity event in London (pictured with Dec and singer Tom Walker)
The Duchess delivered the keynote address at the event for drug and alcohol dependency charity the Forward Trust, of which she is patron.
Kate, who was radiant in a pleated red skirt and matching jumper, spoke movingly about how ‘anyone’ can become an addict and called for greater understanding of those battling addiction.
‘Addiction is not a choice. No one chooses to become an addict. But it can happen to any one of us. None of us are immune,’ Kate said, launching the Forward Trust ‘Taking Action on Addiction’ campaign.
‘Yet it’s all too rarely discussed as a serious mental health condition. And seldom do we take the time to uncover and fully understand its fundamental root causes.’
The Duchess spoke to families of recovered addicts and heard more about the services offered by Forward Start.
Kate, who was radiant in a pleated red skirt and matching jumper, became patron of the charity earlier this year
In her keynote address, which coincides with the start of Addiction Awareness Week, Kate said: ‘The journey towards addiction is often multi-layered and complex. But, by recognising what lies beneath addiction, we can help remove the taboo and shame that sadly surrounds it.
‘As a society, we need to start from a position of compassion and empathy. Where we nurture those around us, understand their journey, and what has come before them.
‘We need to value and prioritise care and support, helping to restore and connect individuals who are clearly suffering, to the people around them.’