The Duchess of Cambridge was in Highbury today to meet some of Islington’s foster parents and children.

%image(15090552, type="article-full", alt="The Duchess admires the hair of six-month-old Naya with her foster mother Tigest Tesfamichael before saying she was "even chubbier than George"")

Her Royal Highness, who is six months pregnant with her second child, spoke to guardians and social workers about the challenges and rewards of fostering as well as sharing her own experiences of parenthood with delighted guests at The Fostering Network’s centre in Elwood Street.

Displaying a prominent bump, Kate listened to ambassadors for the charity and, at a tea party with foster parents, joked that an adorable six month old was “even chubbier than George”.

At the end of her visit the Duchess was handed a “memory box” from Zoe Witherington, 20, who was HRH’s guide for the day and is an ambassador for the charity,

“It was lovely talking to the Duchess, she seemed really interested in fostering,” said Miss Witherington, from Newham, who was fostered from the age of 10 to 18.

%image(15090552, type="article-full", alt="The Duchess admires the hair of six-month-old Naya with her foster mother Tigest Tesfamichael before saying she was "even chubbier than George"")

“She asked lots of questions and I got to introduce her to my foster mother which was amazing.

“She asked me if I thought I would have done the same things and be in the same position at university if it hadn’t been for fostering and I said I didn’t think I would.”

Kate started the visit with an intimate discussion with a handful of foster parents and ambassadors involved with The Fostering Network’s new scheme to bring foster carers and education specialists together to ensure that children in care get the support they need in school and at home.

She told them: “I’ve heard a huge amount about fostering and it’s really great for me to have this opportunity to speak to you about it.”

%image(15090552, type="article-full", alt="The Duchess admires the hair of six-month-old Naya with her foster mother Tigest Tesfamichael before saying she was "even chubbier than George"")

HRH then moved on to a tea party speaking to foster parents, some who had fostered almost 100 different children, as well as meeting children similar in age to Prince George.

Speaking to six-month-old baby Naya, who has been in the care of 48-year-old single mum Tigest Tesfamichael of Tufnell Park for four months, she said: “You’re very smiley aren’t you.

“You’re even chubbier than George is,” she added.

Naya’s hair was tied up in little bunches with coloured bands and the Duchess moved closer and said: “Sweetie pie, I love your hair.”

In other conversations at the tea party she told carers she “was still learning” as a parent.

Maggie Randall, 61, who started fostering just two years ago, said of HRH, “I think she’s very human, she’s got a nice sense of humour and she’s very kind and warm.

“It’s great that she came today, this is what fostering needs – someone to put it out there and show what a difference it makes to so many lives.”

Jim Bond, president of the Fostering Network which organised the fact-finding day for the Duchess, said: “She was overwhelmed by what she saw and heard. She was very moved and impressed with it all.”