The Princess of Wales couldn't resist munching on her favourite snack as she made new friends on a surprise outing on Wednesday. 

Kate, 44, revealed her surprise love of ready salted crisps as she sat down with an elderly group during their lunch in a village hall in Pulborough, West Sussex. 

Chatting at the table, Kate said: "What a lovely way to make friends," as around 50 people in Pulborough village hall enjoyed red pepper and sweet potato soup with hunks of bread, cheese and crisps on the side.

Examining the food on the table, the princess noted there was a bowl of crisps and asked to be passed the bowl.

"I bet you never eat crisps," regular Lynda Jones teased her.

"I do. I love salted," the royal said, and took one to prove her point, gently nibbling on it as they chatted. After asking them to pass the crisps, she joked that she enjoys just "a few crisps here and there". 

The royal is said to have a very healthy diet - but like the rest of us, it seems she also enjoys a treat now and again.

Lynda said afterwards: "She asked for some crisps, and I let her (have some). She said she liked it; they were ready salted, crinkle cut. Kate was a natural."

The weekly lunch is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and the princess arrived at the venue in Pulborough, West Sussex, via a minibus service that has been running for 50 years, after collecting some diners from neighbouring streets.

After arriving in Pulborough, the Princess boarded a minibus and met volunteers Kay and Terri. 

The royal mother of three looked very autumnal in a Jigsaw Wool Maxi City Coat, which she wore over a pussy bow blouse and grey trousers.

She then picked up 94-year-old Stella, a regular user of West Sussex Minibus, at her bungalow. 

Mrs Drewett was told of her VIP guest shortly beforehand and said: "I couldn’t quite believe it. I am quite a new member. It’s a great service. I used to drive myself until I decided to spare the other road users.

"Everyone said to me, 'But what are you going to do now?' And I did think, 'Oh gosh, what am I going to do now?'

"But they take me to the supermarket once a week, and we go down to the village hall for the lunch club. It’s a very valuable service. It’s wonderful."

Word had spread about the royal visitor in the village, and charity workers, mothers with toddlers, and passers-by lined the route to her car as she headed home.

Kate played a jumping game with two little boys, Arthur, aged three, and his one-year-old brother Albie, who extravagantly jumped off the kerb as their mother, Thea Botley, 25, watched.

The princess held Albie’s hand as he repeatedly jumped, and Ms Botley said afterwards: "He doesn’t really like people holding his hand, so I was quite shocked when he took her hand. He doesn’t always like to hold mine.

"She was lovely; I didn’t expect her to be playing with my children."