Princess of Wales Kate Middleton surprised shoppers in Leeds' Kirkgate Market when she stopped in the area to talk to locals about her campaign Shaping Us. Leeds hosts the princess' large digital ad for the campaign in its marketplace and is also the former home of Middleton's father.
The initiative, which launched Monday, aims to educate and focus attention on the early years of a child's life, from child development to how early life experiences effect "who we become."
Shoppers in the area were shocked to see Middleton walking amongst them, and one nervous fan asked the princess if she would take a selfie with him. She gladly obliged and walked over to him.
As she approached, he fumbled with his phone trying to change the camera.
He admitted:
"I'm sorry. I'm really nervous."
In the most comforting way possible, Princess Kate replied:
"Please don't worry. It's okay."
"We all get nervous."
You can watch the captured moment below.
Viewers of the video gushed over Middleton's kindness and sincerity.
Catherine is such a people person, kind and genuine, it doesn't matter who they are young,old and anyone in-between, we are so lucky to have her.😍😍🇬🇧🇬🇧
— anne (@anne39838450) January 31, 2023
Lovely, authentic, kind
— Melyana Klue (@MelyanaKlue) January 31, 2023
She’s so down to earth😍😍. “ we all get nervous “ Exactly! And she makes pple feel so calm. I love her
— JusticeForAll (@JUSTICEFORJD01) January 31, 2023
Oh my gosh, this actually made me tear up a bit because it's so sweet and sincere.
— Roundabout (@UpHomeThompson1) January 31, 2023
That was lovely, so naturally caring.
— Yves (@Yves68) February 1, 2023
A true People’s Princess, following in he mother in law’s footsteps ❤️
— Ange Tonyrefail (@AngelaE50013295) February 1, 2023
Bless his heart. That was sweet of her to stop and say a kind word.
— Jerri (@jstepp) January 31, 2023
What a beautiful human being she is
— Elaine Roberts (@ElaineR33994712) February 1, 2023
Aww, what a lovely response to that chap! Just honest and kind. Xx
— Abigail (@abigailtaylor50) January 31, 2023
Cool, calm, collected, classy and highlighting education for young people 💗
— KJ (@Mckenzie11) January 31, 2023
Lovely gesture, very humble and graceful just what we need in this world.
— collette Leyden (@colletteLeyden) January 31, 2023
On Saturday, the princess shared a letter announcing the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
"This week, I am delighted to reveal The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood will launch a major new awareness raising campaign, highlighting the critical importance the first five years of our lives have on shaping the adults we become."
She continued to explain how the rapid development of the brain in early years connects to the way those years shape the rest of our lives.
She finished:
"We all need to know the critical importance of our early childhood..."
"Because healthy, happy children shape a healthy, happy future."
