Princess of Wales jokes she won’t be getting any Valentine’s Day roses from Prince William as she visits Leeds to mark the launch of her Shaping Us campaign

• Kate joked that she wouldn’t be getting Valentine’s Day roses from William
• Princess of Wales visited Leeds today to mark the start of her landmark project
• READ: Kate Middleton is wolf-whistled on royal visit: Lone crowd member fails to overshadow Princess of Wales’ early years project launch as she appears to ignore unwanted attention with catcalling set to be made illegal 

The Princess of Wales has been supported by her husband ahead of the launch of her early years campaign – but joked Valentine’s Day roses from Prince William may not happen.

Kate, 41, marked the start of her landmark project, Shaping Us, by visiting Leeds today; she toured its Kirkgate Market to meet stall holders and members of the public to hear their views about her campaign.

During her trip, she stopped at florist Neil Ashcroft’s business, where she admired his display of flowers and with Valentine’s Day just a fortnight away he said ‘William will be buying you some roses?’ and then cheekily offered her a discount on the blooms.

After presenting her with a bouquet of hyacinths he claimed were her favourite flowers, the stall holder said: ‘I suggested William will be buying her roses and she said “I don’t think he will do”‘.

The Princess of Wales has been supported by her husband ahead of the launch of her early years campaign – but joked Valentine’s Day roses from Prince William may not happen

The Prince of Wales supported his wife when he joined Kate at a BAFTA event on Monday night where the princess met supporters of her project and launched a campaign film.

Her Shaping Us campaign has been described as the princess’ ‘life’s work’ and is aimed at highlighting the significance of the formative years of a child’s life.

In a video message to mark the launch Kate said: ‘Our early childhood, the time from pregnancy to the age of five, fundamentally shapes the rest of our lives. But as a society, we currently spend much more of our time and energy on later life.

‘Today, the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood is launching a new campaign, Shaping Us, to raise awareness of the life-changing impact we can have when we build a supportive, nurturing world around children and those who care for them.’

The Prince of Wales supported his wife (pictured together) when he joined Kate at a BAFTA event on Monday night where the princess met supporters of her project and launched a campaign film

Kate (pictured right), 41, marked the start of her landmark project, Shaping Us, by visiting Leeds today; she toured its Kirkgate Market to meet stall holders and members of the public to hear their views about her campaign

Meanwhile, the Shaping Us short film highlights how babies and children develop in response to their earliest experiences. 

The 90-second claymation film depicts how the development of a young girl from the age of zero to five is shaped by interactions and her environment, and will be shown in cinemas from Friday. 

During her tour Kate was mobbed by shoppers unaware the Victorian market would be having a royal visit and one pensioner referred to the future Queen as ‘love’ when they chatted.

Shirley Wainwright, 75, from Harrogate, said she made Kate laugh when she told her: ‘I didn’t know love you were coming, it was a complete surprise. I’m just coming on the bus from Harrogate when I came across you.’

During her trip, she stopped at florist Neil Ashcroft’s business, where she admired his display of flowers and with Valentine’s Day just a fortnight away he said ‘William will be buying you some roses?’ and then cheekily offered her a discount on the blooms

Kate pictured waving to the crowds after her tour of Kirkgate Market in Leeds, West Yorkshire this morning

The Princess of Wales laughed as she waved to royal fans during her tour of the Leeds Kirkgate Market 

Later Kate joined a discussion with a group of individuals who have been involved with Child Friendly Leeds, launched in 2012 and designed to encourage the city to make Leeds the best place for youngsters to grow up in, with the belief the community will see social and economic benefits.

She told them: ‘(Having) children and young people at the heart of the city and community here is really impressive.’

Later, speaking about Shaping Us, she said to the group, who included representatives from West Yorkshire Police and other local institutions: ‘Having a chit chat with some of the parents downstairs they feel this is an issue for them’.

Later, Kate arrived at the University of Leeds where she met students on the Childhood Studies programme, telling them: ‘I really want to come and study again.’

The Princess of Wales pictured touring the iconic market in Leeds this morning. She wore a longline green coat, dark brown suede boots and a cream dress

The Princess of Wales styled her hair in a bouncy blow-dry and opted for a brown smokey eye for this afternoon’s engagement

The Princess of Wales speaks with vendors who have worked at the market for over 30 years and members of the public about their reflections on the film

As she toured around the market, the Princess politely ignored a wolf whistle from a royal fan

She told one group: ‘It makes me want to be back at uni. Everyone says it’s never too late.’

The princess discussed with students the importance of early years development, asking them about their dissertations.

One student said she was looking at the role of outdoor play in childhood and the royal visitor said ‘this is something I’m really passionate about’, discussing with the group her visit to a forest school in Denmark.

The Princess chose to visit Leeds today as part of the city’s ongoing ambition to become the best place in the UK for young people and children to grow up in. 

The Princess of Wales matched her emerald tailored coat with an old favourite suede handbag by Manu Atelier

The Princess of Wales pictured arriving at the University of Leeds where she attended a ‘Psychological Approaches to Understanding and Supporting Children’s Learning’ lecture

The royal mother-of-three spoke with a young royal fan and their mother as they toured the market in Leeds

In 2012, the city launched Child Friendly Leeds with the belief that by investing in and supporting children, young people and their families, the whole city will see immediate and longer-term social and economic benefits. 

Leeds City Council, working with partners to deliver enrichment programmes to improve outcomes, has seen a safe reduction in the number of youngsters being taken into care, more teenagers going into education, employment and training, and better school attendance.

Leeds Kirkgate Market opened in 1857 and is home to hundreds of local independent businesses covering everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, butchers, and fishmongers, to a Community Library, cookery school and Volunteer Centre. 

During the BAFTA screening last night, the Princess of Wales described the Shaping  Us programme as her ‘life’s work’. 

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