Kate Middleton's touching encounter with young fan

New mum Kate Middleton was left amused by one little girl when she was corrected on the exact date of Christmas. "Happy Christmas," said the Duchess of Cambridge, to a group of young children she was visiting at a Middlesex hospice."It's not Christmas time yet," quipped one adorable blonde girl. 

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"It's nearly Christmas," Kate laughed in a conversation that was filmed by ITN. "I know, silly me. It's nearly Christmas and if you're a very good girl Father Christmas might come visit you.""Father Christmas?" squealed the girl. "Yes," replied Kate, before explaining that she had to leave soon. "Oh, give me a hug first," said the girl, wrapping her arms around the gracious royal's knees. "I might take you home with me," said Kate, holding her hand out.

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The new mother was visiting the Shooting Star Children's Hospice in Hampton near London, where she met volunteers and toured facilities. Kate watched a music therapy session, where she sang along to children's songs and entertained the youngsters with puppets.

As she was leaving, the Duchess was presented with a beautiful bouquet. "Are these flowers for me?" asked Kate. "Thank you very much girls.""That's for me and you," replied the same blonde girl, to laughs around the room. "Thank you so much," said Kate, hugging the girl again and giving her a thumbs-up. "They're very, very pretty. Thank you. That's very kind."

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On her visit to the hospice last week, Kate had a private meeting with parents who had recently lost their two young children to spinal muscular atrophy. Their one-year-old daughter had died three days previously while they lost their five-year-old son to the disease eight weeks ago.

The Shooting Star Children's Hospice cares for 650 children with life-limiting conditions in Hampton and Guildford.

As Royal Patron of the East Anglia Children's Hospices, the warm royal is no stranger to these visits. Kate is heavily involved the projects that the extended hospice network carries out and has offered a supportive ear to several families.