Princess Kate had a hilarious response when asked to join in a traditional dance with Hindu worshippers while on a solo engagement in Leicester yesterday. The Princess of Wales travelled to the city to celebrate the city's diversity, creativity and cultural heritage.

On her unannounced visit to one of Britain’s biggest Indian communities, Kate toured the Shreeji Dham Haveli Hindu Temple and visited award-winning choreographer Aakash Odedra’s dance company in the city. She was garlanded with flowers and a light-coloured bindi was pressed between her eyes when she arrived, before she was asked to take part in a cultural dance.

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Mayur Kachela from the temple’s executive committee hosted the visit and joked afterwards his royal guest did not need much persuading, replying “Oh, go on then” when he asked if she wanted to join in.

Kate took her shoes off as she joined the women-only group performing a traditional garba dance in front of a statue of the Hindu deity Lord Krishna, performed in a circle with the women repeatedly turning to face the left, then right, as the circle rotated.

After a performance by the artist’s group, when Kate was given a red rose, she said: “My children would love it, they love their dance.” When she first arrived, Kate told Mr Kachela “thank you very much for having me, I feel very lucky to be invited”.

Mr Kachela said Kate’s gesture was “absolutely amazing”, adding: “This visit means a lot. There’s not just one faith, one religion out there, there are many faiths and religions. It means a lot to have somebody of such importance and significance actually come in and try and understand, and try to acknowledge what we’re doing here.”

She also made an offering to Krishna, pouring a small amount of milk, favoured by the deity, before walking around a large symbolic model of a mountain the god appeared on. During the visit, Kate received gifts of a saree and a gold-coloured scarf before having an impromptu vegetarian lunch.

Visiting businesses and wellwishers along Leicester’s ‘Golden Mile’, the Princess of Wales met people who have this week been marking Holi, the Indian festival of colours, love and spring.

Kate’s first stop on her away day was a visit to The Aakash Odedra Company, an organisation which helps more than 1,000 people a week through its range of community dance programmes.

The company, founded in Leicester in 2011 by Aakash Odedra, an award-winning choreographer and dancer, with a mission to create “a happier and healthier society through dance and the arts”.

The dance company recently joined forces with the charity Move Against Cancer, offering Bollywood dance classes to those recovering from the disease. The Princess of Wales last year announced that she was in remission from cancer following a diagnosis in early 2024. Following a course of chemotherapy, the princess, 44, has made a gradual return to royal duties.

By the time she left the community centre, crowds had gathered outside and as she walked towards them, people surged forwards to greet her with hugs and requests for selfies. “Thank you for coming to see me,” she said.

"Welcome to Leicester, Ma'am," said one shopper who stopped her outside a jewellers, while an elderly woman gave the Princess a Hindu blessing. As she walked round the corner to the Golden Mile, vans honked their horns and drivers waved as they caught sight of the princess on the busy road.