Duchess of Cambridge plants a tree during her visit to the Treehouse, part of the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, in Ipswich

The Duchess of Cambridge planted an oak sapling to commemorate her visit to The Treehouse hospice in Ipswich today.

Fresh from making her maiden public speech, Kate shovelled in four mounds of earth with a spade before stepping back and admiring her work.

She was then handed flowers by children from the hospice, including wheelchair-bound Bethany Woods, 10.

Kate then went on a brief walkabout to meet the hundreds of well-wishers who had waited patiently outside.