Touching moment the Duchess of Cambridge hugged a tearful mum at a charity event

She’s often been praised for her down-to-earth attitude, and last night the Duchess of Cambridge highlighted her sensitive side once more after comforting a tearful mum at an Awards ceremony.

The 34-year-old royal was attending the children’s mental health charity, Place2Be Awards at London’s Mansion House, when she was touched by hearing fellow mum Ceri Knapton’s story and leant forward to embrace her.

“I just had to do that as a mum,” she said.

Ceri was overcome with emotion while hearing her 13-year-old son, Ethan, telling Kate about his battle with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Ethan, who was nominated for a Young Person Champion Award for raising awareness about the conditions, told the Duchess that he had been bullied at primary school because of his, then undiagnosed, conditions.

Following her royal encounter, Ceri explained how touched she’d been by Kate’s empathy. “I vowed that I wouldn’t cry but was just overcome listening to Ethan,” she said. “The Duchess just leant over and said to me ‘I’ve got to give you a hug as a mum.’ I couldn’t believe it. It was such a kind gesture.”

Dressed in a black Preen dress, a vintage-style jewelled belt and cutout Prada court shoes, the Duchess chatted to guests and gave a speech praising those involved in the organisation, of which she is a patron.

“Without many of the inspiring people gathered here this evening, countless children would not receive such transformational support in their schools,” she said.

“It is because of so many of you, that in their time of need, children have the help, care and attention that will get them through tough times in their lives.”

The Duchess went on to discuss the importance of offering support to families so that they can seek the help they need to ensure problems are addressed as early as possible.

“I am a firm believer that it is absolutely crucial to confront problems as early as possible, to prevent them from escalating into even greater issues later in life,” she continued.

“Even the luckiest people can face great challenges. No matter how invincible we seem on the surface, all of us need help from time to time.”

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Same Preen dress, different colour for the Duchess of Cambridge

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