Holly Willoughby has confessed that she was so nervous about meeting her idol, the Duchess of Cambridge, that she started rambling on about getting food stuck in her teeth. The bubbly TV presenter was hosting the Fostering Excellence Awards on Tuesday night, which Kate attended as a royal guest of honour.
Recalling the funny encounter the following day on This Morning, Holly left her co-star Phillip Schofield cringing.
"I got a bit nervous and kept talking! And do you know what I was talking about? This is so me!" said Holly. "There was a plate of sandwiches in front of us and nobody wanted to eat as they were all too nervous before [Kate] came over, so I said [to an organiser], 'When are we allowed to start eating? We're really scared we're going to get cress in our teeth!'"
"I said, 'When are we allowed to start eating? We're really scared we're going to get cress in our teeth!'" Holly Willoughby revealed
"I've only just remembered that!" laughed Holly. The 34-year-old went on to describe how meeting the Duchess was a dream come true.
"It was very exciting," said Holly. "You know I always speak about her an awful lot, I'm a huge fan of hers and my mum was with me, and she was just so amazing. I know they always say don't meet the people you hold up high, but I have to say, she didn't disappoint. She spent a very long time going around every table talking to people."
Kate attended the awards as a show of support for The Fostering Network. The charity is dedicated to foster care and helping children and young people achieve the very best they can.
"She was just so amazing, she didn't disappoint," the presenter added
On the night, Kate and her fellow guests were treated to a tea party, and the Duchess made sure she chatted to staff, volunteers and award winners.
The Duchess met three teenagers – Emily, Sian and Adam – whom she later presented with the Fostering Achievement Award. The trio have all been fostered and were being recognised for their extraordinary achievements.
In a foreword to Tuesday evening's programme, Kate wrote: "It is fantastic that we are all gathered this evening to celebrate fostering and the truly transformational care that is a lifeline to so many. The people we will hear about tonight are truly extraordinary and show how good foster care changes children and young people's lives."