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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Kate Middleton's surprise nine-word reply to fan who nervously asks for a selfie

The Princess of Wales has become known for happily posing for selfies with royal fans who come out to see her on royal engagements.

So when one man plucked up the courage to ask her if he could take selfie with her as she visited Leeds today, she quickly obliged.

And when the man admitted to the princess that he was nervous as he fumbled with the apps on his phone, Kate knew exactly what to say and calmed with nine sweet comforting words.

The man's encounter with the princess came as she visited Kirkgate Market in the northern city today, where she joined market traders to discuss her ambitious campaign aimed at raising the profile of the early years development of children.

She also met members of the public to mark the launch of her “life’s work” – the Shaping Us project, aimed at highlighting the significance of the formative years of a child’s life.

As she left the market to attend another engagement at the University of Leeds, footage posted on Twitter by GB News reporter Cameron Walker, shows a man call out to Kate and politely ask: "Can I get a selfie?"

The princess says yes and adds "very quickly" before the man apologises to her, although she insists it is OK.

Kate poses for a selfie with the nervous fan (twitter.com/CameronDLWalker)
Kate told the man not to worry when he told her he felt nervous (twitter.com/CameronDLWalker)

The man, who was fumbling with his phone, then confides in Kate that he is very nervous and she tells him: "Please don't worry, it's OK. We all get nervous."

The pair then pose for the camera and the man gets his special snap, before he thanks Kate and she tells him: "Well done, nice to meet you. Take care."

After she went to the University of Leeds, where she joined students on the childhood studies degree programme for a lecture and discussion on her Shaping Up campaign.

Crowds cheered as Kate left the market after her visit (PA)
Kate toured the market and met vendors (PA)

Kate's trip to Leeds today comes after a pre-launch event for her Shaping Us campaign at Bafta headquarters in London last night, where she gave a speech.

Prince William accompanied his wife to the event, alongside the Princess’s team of celebrity ambassadors including radio DJ Ferne Cotton and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher.

The long-term project, launched on Tuesday by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, is said to be Kate's "life's work", which she hopes will influence attitudes towards children in the early years period of their lives.

She asked shoppers about their experiences of early childhood (PA)

A 90-second claymation film has also been released, depicting how the development of a young girl from the age of zero to five is shaped by interactions and her environment, and will be shown in cinemas from Friday.

Royal sources said the project would become Kate's "life's work" while also using her mental health campaigning with William over the last decade as a blueprint for potential success.

The campaign has the support of a number of other notable faces, including musician Professor Green, former Love Island star Zara McDermott and footballer Leah Williamson.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said the importance of early years development will be "key focus" for Kate for the "rest of her life".

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