The Princess of Wales had the sweetest reaction when a young boy asked if she was ‘the Queen’ during a visit to a children’s hospital in London today.

‘Are you the Queen?’ 10-year-old cardiac patient Ejran queried, before Catherine replied: ‘No, I’m the Princess of Wales.’ 

This was just one instance of how the future Queen raised smiles and spirits during a low-key visit to the Evelina Children’s Hospital that works to help some of the capital’s sickest youngsters.

When ‘brave’ Ejran, who has been receiving treatment at the medical facility near Westminster, shook his head in response to Catherine asking if he had ‘made some nice friends’, she encouragingly replied: ‘Maybe they haven’t come along yet.’

She also thanked Ejran for waiting patiently to meet her as Catherine blew kisses and accepted flowers during a moving visit to the hospital.

Prince William’s wife was resplendent as she arrived at the medical facility near Westminster wearing a flowy, cream dress from Suzannah London.

The elegant midi features pin-tucks at the waist, black buttons and a matching belt to cinch the waist, with Catherine having previously worn the frock for a memorial service marking the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Alongside her iconic engagement ring the princess was wearing a friendship bracelet made for her by Princess Charlotte when she undertook the Three Peaks Challenge. 

She completed today’s look with a pair of slingback black heels and styled her ‘bronde’ hair in loose waves.

The Princess of Wales raised smiles today as she visited the London-based Evelina Children’s Hospital that works to help some of the capital’s sickest youngsters

Catherine accepted a bouquet of roses from five-year-old Amelie during today’s visit 

Catherine blowing a kiss at a young patient at the Westminster facility

‘Are you the Queen?’ 10-year-old cardiac patient Ejran queried, before Catherine replied: ‘No, I’m the Princess of Wales’ during a sweet moment 

Ejran, who has been in hospital for a month suffering with serious cardiac problems, gave the Princess of Wales the thumbs up afterwards, saying the encounter had been ‘amazing’.

‘I want to meet the King now,’ he grinned.

The princess told him: ‘It’s very nice to meet you. I have come to see all the amazing work that’s going on here and meet very special and brave children like yourself. How long have you been here?’

‘A long time,’ Ejran replied.

The Princess then briefly spoke to the boy about her children’s love of Shrek, after she was told he had written a poem about the character.

Today’s low-key visit to the hospital, where the future Queen has been patron since 2018, will highlight its work to become London’s most comprehensive, integrated children’s hospital. 

Plans are underway for a new building in the next ten years, complete with additional scanners, beds and theatres alongside state-of-the-art technology.

And it is hoped the princess’s visit will raise awareness of the Evelina London Children’s Charity’s efforts to raise £100 million towards the project.

During the engagement, Catherine visited Edward Ward, a new cardiac centre at St Thomas’ Hospital, which the Evelina is part of, where she met children being treated in what has been designed as a welcoming and friendly environment.

Among them was Arjun, three, who has suffered from serious heart problems since birth but has been particularly seriously ill in recent months and has been a patient since January.

The little boy had just received his medication before the princess arrived and was a little shy to start with but eventually warmed as she joined him, with his parents, Ricky Sharma and Mandy Sekhon, from Hounslow, West London.

‘Are you feeling bit shy?’ she asked.

Catherine persevered and played with his toy, asking him about various Paw Patrol characters.

‘I used to know all the names but I have forgotten them now,’ she admitted.

‘Which one is the cheeky one?’

Holding one of his toy dinosaurs, she chatted about the ‘amazing’ treatment he had received while a patient.

‘The staff are so kind and caring,’ his mother said.

She added: ‘I am so glad that your journey is near the end here.

‘Time to go home tomorrow – but first, porridge!’ she laughed, pointing to his lunch.

She also met Hope Turnbull, 14, with her mother, Connie, who had recently suffered a relapse of heart problems she had suffered since birth and collapsed at home but was hoping to go home soon.

Catherine sympathised about how carrying an ‘invisible disability’ was difficult.

‘With her clothes on she looks like just a regular girl,’ her mother said.

‘Do your friends know what you have gone through?’ the princess asked.

‘And what you have gone through physically as well as emotionally.’

‘She’s a strong girl,’ he mother said proudly.

‘She’s the strongest girl I know.’

‘Well done you, bet you can’t wait to get home,’ the princess replied, thanking them for talking to her.

As she got up, Connie’s mother couldn’t resist saying: ‘You are beautiful!’ prompting the princess to smile bashfully and reply: ‘And so are you.’

She then joined young patients and their families at Galaxy Ward, a brand-new outpatients unit with the Children’s Day Centre, where they can have face-to face heart clinic appointments, including diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms, assessments and ongoing care for children and young people with a cardiac condition.

Her last stop was to meet members of the children’s cancer programme team who are working together to plan for the move of a specialist cancer and blood and marrow transplant service.

The future Children’s Cancer Principal Treatment Centre located at Evelina will bring together teams from across London and south east England and allow children with cancer to access all the specialist services they need in one place.

Catherine smelling the roses that Amelie sweetly brought for her

Catherine, Princess of Wales, speaks to members of the staff as she visits Evelina London Children’s Hospital

During today’s visit, Catherine spoke to parents of children who have been treated at Evelina

Catherine waving at royal well-wishers as she visited the Westminster facility 

Catherine met Arjun and his family at the Edward ward today 

The future Queen seemingly bonded with Arjun as Catherine placed a gentle arm on the young boy’s shoulder 

Catherine was resplendent in a cream dress from Suzannah London 

Catherine has been a patron of the Evelina hospital since 2018 

During a visit to Evelina’s new cardiac ward, Catherine chatted with 14-year-old Hope 

The future Queen at Evelina Children’s Hospital as she warmly greeted patients and staff 

Today’s low-key visit to the hospital, where the future Queen has been patron since 2018, will highlight its work to become London’s most comprehensive, integrated children’s hospital

‘I can’t believe the change in three years,’ she said, referring to her last visit.

‘It’s lovely so have these spaces where you can connect.’

Before the princess left, she spoke to parents whose children have been treated at the hospital who are now part of a steering group advising staff on how best to develop the space.

At the exit she was met by Amelie, five, who shyly presented her with a posy.

It comes after the princess released heartwarming new pictures of herself with her family – including her husband, children, parents and brother – after completing the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. 

Catherine looked the part in a heartwarming post uploaded to Instagram as she was seen sporting a pair of red shorts and a baseball cap, surrounded by those closest to her.

She captioned the images: ‘This time last week, completing the National Three Peaks Challenge. A huge thank you to everybody who has supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.’

All three of her children were out in full force to show their support – with Charlotte, George and Louis each wearing their own practical pair of blue jeans as they smiled for the camera.

Also tagging along for parts of the hike was James Middleton, Kate’s younger brother who famously endured his own health difficulties after being treated for severe depression that left him contemplating suicide.

Posting to Instagram this evening, James said he was ‘so incredibly proud’ of his ‘darling sister’.

He added: ‘Two years ago, I told you we’d climb this mountain together. We talked about climbing mountains while you were in hospital, and about the incredible healing power that nature can have for both the body and the mind. So it was such an honour to join you for your Three Peaks Challenge for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

‘Seeing how far you’ve come is nothing short of inspiring. Your strength, resilience, and determination, all while being the most amazing mother, wife, daughter, and sister, inspire me and so many others every single day.

‘Keep being exactly who you are.’ 

The Three Peaks Challenge sees participants attempt to climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours: Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Scotland and the UK, standing at 4,413ft; Scafell Pike, the highest peak in England, standing at 3,209ft and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest peak in Wales, standing at 3,560ft.

The princess was driven between the peaks – Scotland, then England and finally Wales – by her team. It is not believed that any other member of the Royal Family has completed the Three Peaks Challenge, also making the princess’s triumph a royal first.