Pregnant Kate's First Royal Visit..

Duchess of Cambridge inspects addiction treatment centre in south London

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, has travelled to Hope House treatment centre in Clapham, south London, in her role as patron of Action on Addiction. The visit was arranged to allow the duchess to meet women who are rebuilding their lives. Kate, who is now more than four months pregnant, wore a MaxMara dress, and was seen to clasp her small baby bump for a moment before heading inside the building.

Nick Barton, chief executive of Action on Addiction, defended his royal patron, describing her as an 'intelligent' woman genuinely interested in the work of his organisation.

The Duchess was given a warm reception on her arrival at the centre.

The Duchess' visit coincided with comments from the novelist Hilary Mantel, who criticised the Duchess as appearing to have been 'gloss-varnished' with a perfect plastic smile in contrast to Princess Diana, whom she described as awkward and emotionally incontinent. Mantel added that the 'painfully thin' Kate was selected for her role of princess because she posed no risk of showing any character.