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First clip of Duchess of Cambridge reading CBeebies bedtime story released

Watch: First look at the Duchess of Cambridge's CBeebies bedtime story

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The Duchess of Cambridge encourages children to face their fears in a newly released clip of her reading a CBeebies bedtime story, which will air on Sunday February 13.

To mark Children's Mental Health Week, the royal sits cross-legged on a rug to read from the modern children’s classic, The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, by Jill Tomlinson.

The duchess, 40, chose to read from this particular book, as it has been a favourite with her own children, Prince George, eight, Prince Louis, six, and Princess Charlotte, three.

It tells the story of Plop, a baby barn owl who is helped by others to overcome his fears and grow in confidence.

The Duchess of Cambridge will read a CBeebies Bedtime Story to mark Children's Mental Health Week. (Kensington Palace/PA)
The Duchess of Cambridge will read a CBeebies Bedtime Story to mark Children's Mental Health Week. (Kensington Palace/PA)

In the newly released clip, shared to the CBeebies Instagram and Twitter, the mum-of-three gives children some advice about facing their fears after finishing up her telling of the story.

"Wow, what an encouraging tale," she says. "We can all feel scared sometimes just like our little owl friend Plop. But as Mrs barn owl 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 clip ends.

After watching the short clip fans flocked to social media to praise the royal's bedtime-story reading credentials, with many commenting on the "soothing" tone of her voice.

"What a calm and pleasant voice to hear," one fan tweeted.

"Ah wow she’s good right? Maybe you could offer her a job. She just made me feel warm and fuzzy and I’m 36," another shared.

"What a beautiful reading voice for children," another praised.

"The duchess has a beautiful soothing voice," yet another fan wrote.

Others commented on how the royal was the perfect choice for the reading of a bedtime story to children.

"Awww she is the sweetest woman on this planet and simply the perfect person to read to kids," one user wrote. "I love her calm, beautiful voice so much! I’m sure this episode will be a huge success."

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For her story reading the duchess was dressed in a £179, cream-coloured Holland Cooper Fair Isle knitted sweater, which is now sold out, and her go-to, stonewash blue cropped jeans, from & Other Stories, which are also currently sold out having been reduced from £65 to £39. However, the jeans are still available in numerous other hues.

To read the book the mum-of-three is sitting on top of a cosy rug, with a Fair Isle print, in front of a wooden den, in which the familiar smiling CBeebies toy is hiding.

A starry backdrop has been put up behind her, as well as a smoking fire pit.

There are also three stuffed owls, representative of her chosen bedtime story.

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The duchess is one of many celebrities who have taken part in the CBeebies network’s Bedtime Stories series, with Reese Witherspoon just last week making an appearance on the popular kids’ show reading Extraordinary! by Penny Harrison.

Last year, Tom Hiddleston chose to read from picture-book Supertato, Ryan Reynolds brought a copy of Where the Wild Things Are, and Chris Evans selected Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site.

Regé-Jean Page, Felicity Jones, David Schwimmer, Alesha Dixon, Eddie Redmayne, Orlando Bloom, Sir Elton John and Dolly Parton have also taken up the bedtime story reading mantle.

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To the delight of many mums (and dads!) Tom Hardy has made multiple appearances over the years. Most recently the actor narrated The Christmas Pineby Julia Donaldson, accompanied by his dog Blue, on Christmas Day.

Hardy has proved popular in the slot, having previously spent a week during the first lockdown reading a new story each day.

First launched in 2015 by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, of which the duchess is a royal patron, Children’s Mental Health Week is a national event that aims to highlight the importance of the issue.

This year children and their parents or carers are being encouraged to consider how they have grown and how they can help others to grow.

The duchess, whose reading will be screened on Sunday, picked Tomlinson’s book as the story fits in well with this years’ theme of Growing Together.

The Duchess of Cambridge was on royal duty earlier this week during a visit to PACT (Parents and Children Together). (Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS)
The Duchess of Cambridge was on royal duty earlier this week during a visit to PACT (Parents and Children Together). (Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS)

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Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education, said: “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 years’ 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.”

Buy the book: The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark | £5.99 from Amazon

The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark by Jill Tomlinson and Paul Howard.
The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark by Jill Tomlinson and Paul Howard.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, read by the duchess on CBeebies Bedtime Stories, will be screened at 6.50pm on Sunday.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark read by the duchess on CBeebies Bedtime Stories will be screened at 6.50pm on Sunday