Kate Middleton spends Valentine's Day at children's hospital

Kate Middleton spent her Valentine's day visiting sick children at Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool and was greeted by cheering fans who jostled to give her flowers.

The Duchess of Cambridge visited the oncology ward of the children's hospital and joined Megan Squire, 12, and Paige Hearn, 4, who were making Valentine's cards and crowns for Kate.

After Megan gave her a Valentine's Day card, she said: "Thank you so much, I'll make sure I show it to William when he gets back. Which is not too far away now."

Kate's husband of ten months Prince William is currently serving in the Falklands, while the duchess has been making her first public appearances as a royal.

Last week, she attended the opening of the Lucian Freud exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, of which she is a patron, on her own as part of her royal duties.

After chatting and spending time with the children, Kate had a private meeting with Alder Hey bosses to discuss a £230 million rebuild of the hospital.

She was cheered by a crowd of around 200 when she left.

Kate Middleton met Prince William at the University of St Andrews in 2003 and they enjoyed an on/off relationship until they married on 29 April 2011.