Valentine's Day: Prince William sends gifts to Duchess of Cambridge She beamed with delight as she gathered up armfuls of flowers, cards and gifts as hundreds wished her a happy Valentine's Day, her first as a married woman. Keen to speak to as many people as possible, she spent 20 minutes shaking hands and chatting with children and their parents, expressing concerns that they had been waiting so long in the cold. She threw her arms around two four-year-olds, Nancy Williams and Heather Corner, neither of whom could resist giving their royal visitor a massive hug as she crouched down to speak to them. Inside, during a tour of the oncology unit, the Duchess was given a Valentine's Day card adorned with a picture of her and Prince William by 12-year-old Megan Squire, who has Ewing Sarcoma. "Thank you so much, I'll make sure I show it to William when he gets back," she said, before adding, perhaps a touch wistfully: "Which is not too far away now." The Duchess also confided in Elliot Casey, 12, who has just had an operation for a brain tumour, whispering the name of her new black cocker spaniel in his ear. However, she mischievously told him not to tell anyone and Elliot staunchly stuck to his word. His mother Lisa was won over. "She had a really nice way about her, she could talk to children," she said. To get that instant rapport with children is a special gift. I think she'll be good at her job. The Duchess was also keen to see an MRI scanner, which Prince William opened two years ago, staff disclosed. Imogen Reid, 11, who waited outside to see her, said: "She is really pretty and is really normal and kind. I thought she would be different but she is just the same as us. Earlier, the Duchess met recovering addicts at The Brink, an alcohol-free bar run by the charity Action on Addiction, of which she is patron, and was serenaded by the in-house choir, the Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus. Eight-year-old admirer Jaqson Johnston-Lynch took advantage of her husband's absence by presenting her with a Valentine's Day card, in which he had written: "Dear Kate, Happy Valentine's Day. I love you, Jaqson" and a cupcake iced with the words "Jaqson loves Kate." He told her: "I am sorry Prince William cannot be here." "Aaaah," the Duchess replied with a smile. Do you know where he is, Jaqson? He is in the Falklands but he sent me a card this morning. She wasted no time in sampling the latest smoothie on the menu, created especially for the visit and named in her honour: The Duchess. "It's delicious," she said. Although her career as a working royal has barely begun, the Duchess proved her ability to connect with the wider public as she listened intently to the story of recovering alcoholic, Rachel Lyons. Afterwards, Miss Lyons disclosed that she had been so nervous she had intended to just focus on one spot in the room but because the Duchess was paying such careful attention, she felt that she could look at her and speak openly. "It just felt wonderful that the future Queen was sitting in front of me and I could tell her my story," she said. It seems she was really interested in what I had to say. It is amazing what she is doing for Action on Addiction. It is a great thing, and it saves lives. She is fabulous.