Duchess of Cambridge shows off baby bump as she pays visit to charity (GALLERY and VIDEO)

Feb 19 2013 By Cheryl Mullin

THE Duchess of Cambridge confessed today that she is nervous about giving birth, as she showed off her baby bump for the first time at a public event.

Kate’s admission came as she chatted to a group of women recovering from drink and drug addictions at a treatment centre run by the charity Action On Addiction of which she is patron.

The Duchess spent time with an arts therapy group at Hope House in Clapham, south London, where the centre’s clients had completed paintings charting their battle with substance abuse.

Lisa, a mother-of-three, said: “I did ask her if she was nervous (about giving birth). She said it would be unnatural if she wasn’t – she’s human like us.”

The 34-year-old, who turned to drink during a violent marriage which lasted 18 years, said: “I said ‘Congratulations and good luck, I hope it all goes OK’.”

Kate also chatted to Natalie, who has a two-year-old daughter and is due to give birth to a second child in July – the same month as the Duchess who is more than four months pregnant.

The 28-year-old said the talk also turned to babies when they chatted: “We’re due about the same time. She’s been unwell and feeling better now and I felt pretty much the same the first time.”

The Duchess arrived at the treatment centre, which is based in a large period property in the leafy suburb, and was greeted by dozens of photographers, cameramen and journalists.

Wearing a MaxMara dress, she looked relaxed and tanned after her Caribbean holiday and shook hands with Nick Barton, Action On Addiction’s chief executive, before clasping her hands around her small baby bump.

The Duchess made the gesture a number of times during the visit to the centre and seemed completely at ease with her growing figure.

Hope House provides therapy for the women, who will have gone through a process of detox and are clean of alcohol and drugs but still need support before they are ready to return home.