Kate Middleton's moving message to children as she reads bedtime story on CBBC

The Duchess of Cambridge has urged children to confront their fears as she read her favourite book on CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Kate, dressed in jeans and a £179 Fair Isle Jumper, read children’s classic The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark.

The book, by Jill Tomlinson, tells the story of baby barn owl Plop, who is helped by others to grow in confidence and overcome his fears.

The Duchess chose the book to mark Children’s Mental Health Week.

The mother of three looked snug as she sat in a wooded area with a hot chocolate within reach, two soft toy owls for company and a lit fire bowl.

At the end of the reading, she added: “Wow, what an encouraging tale.

Kate called the classic book an "encouraging tale" (BBC)

“We can all feel scared sometimes just like our little owl friend Plop, but as Mrs Barn Own said, ‘It’s better to find out about the things that scare us before we make up our mind’.

“And with the help of others, we can often face things that worry us. Now it’s time for bed. Night night and sleep tight.”

The duchess took part in the broadcast on the BBC ’s channel for young children to mark Children’s Mental Health Week, which is a national event that aims to highlight the importance of the issue.

She picked Tomlinson’s book as the story chimes with this year’s theme of Growing Together.

The Duchess is said to have enjoyed the book as a child (Liverpool Echo)

An aide earlier revealed she loved the book as a child and enjoys reading it now to her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Other celebrities to appear on CBeebies Bedtime Stories include the likes of Hollywood star Chris Evans, Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and British actors Tom Hiddleston and Tom Hardy.

She followed in the footsteps of her father-in-law Prince Charles, who appeared on Jackanory in 1984 to read his tale, The Old Man of Lochnagar.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is another star to have read on CBeebies Bedtime Stories (PA)

Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC children's and education programmes, said before her appearance: “I couldn't be more proud to have the duchess read a CBeebies bedtime story as we mark the 20th anniversary of our CBeebies and CBBC channels.

“It's such a special and relevant tale and perfectly represents this year's Children's Mental Health Week theme. I can't wait to see her deliver her own take on such a classic story and I'm sure our audience can't either.”