Middleton makes public speech debut

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge gave her first public speech as a member of the British royal family today. She visited to formally open The Treehouse, a children's hospice service for the counties of Suffolk and Essex.

The duchess made a short address to children, their families and staff and expressed regret her husband couldn't share the moment.

"I am only sorry that William can't be here today; he would love it here," she told the crowd. The royal heir is in an official visit to the Argentine claimed Islands Malvinas.

"First of all, I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for not only accepting me as your patron but thank you also for inviting me here today,” she said.

According to the local media, Kate toured the Treehouse hospice's facilities and talked to the staff and patients.

"What you do is inspirational, it is a shining example of the support and the care that is delivered, not just here, but in the children's hospice movement at large, up and down the country,” she said.