A Radlett woman met Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, at her first solo royal engagement in Clarence House on Wednesday night.

Rebecca Binstock, of Beech Avenue, attended the charity dinner with her father, Lionel Wernick, who is one of 15 members of the Prince of Wales’ charities council.

The Duchess stood in for her father-in-law, Prince Charles, during a private dinner for the London charity In Kind Direct.

Mrs Binstock said: “I was so excited when I heard Kate was going to be there.

“She did so well but she was really nervous when she first came into the room, you could see it in her face.”

She told the Duchess that her mother-in-law had seen her wedding dress on show in Buckingham Palace.

Kate said she was overwhelmed by how the number of people who have viewed her wedding dress and thought it would only be on display for a couple of days.

Mrs Binstock said the Duchess looked beautiful in her Amanda Wakeley dress and made time to speak to every guest at the charity function.

Mr Wernick also made a brief impromptu speech thanking the Duchess for attending the charity event. The 32 guests were informed by Buckingham Palace on Tuesday that the Duchess would attend on behalf of Prince Charles who was in Saudi Arabia following the death of the Crown Prince.

Charity In Kind Direct was founded by Prince Charles in 1996 and gives surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers to UK charities working at home and abroad.

Robin Boles, chief executive of In Kind Direct, said: “We were delighted that the Duchess was able to step in at such short notice after our founder was unexpectedly called away.

“The Duchess hosted a very special evening with absolute professionalism and charm.”