The head teacher said the royal helper had been "really chatty" with the children on the bus, playing I-spy with them and helping with their jumpers. The children were visiting a trail around the gallery encouraging them to think about their emotions, linked to Catherine's early years education project, Shaping Us.

The Princess of Wales was reportedly “animated” and “nurturing” with the little ones during Tuesday’s National Portrait Gallery outing.

The Princess of Wales took a school bus to the National Portrait Gallery with a group of young children and joined them on an interactive trail exploring their emotions through paintings. Kate adopted the role of a surrogate mum and held hands with some of the four and five-year-olds as she stepped off the minibus with the reception class pupils,

The Princess of Wales has arrived at a royal engagement by minibus, taking a trip with primary school children to the National Portrait Gallery in central London...

The Princess of Wales became a surrogate mother for the day when she befriended a girl and took a school bus ride with her class for a National Portrait Gallery (NPG) outing.Kate helped to look after the youngsters playing I Spy when they travelled to the arts attraction,