A LITTLE girl from Lawford was one of the lucky few to meet the Duchess of Cambridge when she visited the region yesterday.

Kate Middleton overcame self-confessed nerves to give her first public speech as attended an event at the Ipswich centre for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

The hospice cares for children from Suffolk and north Essex, and the two-and-a-half hour visit saw the Duchess take part in a music class at the hospice, where she met Lea Clarke, nine.

Her mum Jo said: “Kate was so warm and sincere. I know everyone probably says that about her, but she just radiated warmth.”

The mum-of-three, from Lawford, said she hoped the Duchess’s role as patron of the hospice will have a “massive impact” on the charity, helping raise awareness of its work.

She added: “It is a wonderful place. It was so lovely that the Duchess said it felt like a home.”

In the grounds of the hospice, known as the Treehouse, the Duchess planted an oak sapling to commemorate her visit.

She then went on a walk- about to meet the hundreds of well-wishers who had waited patiently outside before leaving.

Earlier, the Duchess officially opened the £3million hospice, which has sensory, music therapy and hydrotherapy rooms.

Graham Butland, chief executive of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, said: “Her Royal Highness was fantastic.

“She spent time speaking to everyone – the children, the families and the supporters. She has a natural empathy with the children and families.”