The Duchess of Cambridge didn't mind getting her hands - or $600 leather-lined gumboots - dirty when she joined inner city schoolchildren on a camping trip today.

Kate Middleton visited an Expanding Horizons primary school scheme at the Widehorizons Margaret McMillan House in Kent, the Telegraph reported.

The scheme is aimed at giving children from inner-city backgrounds the opportunity to venture into the countryside and develop their confidence and teamwork skills.

Middleton's £300 (NZ$594) boots by 80-year-old French bootmaker Le Chameau came in handy during her visit as she sat in the mud with the eight and nine-year-old children sampling a piece of smokey bread.

Despite her upmarket gumboots, Middleton dressed down in tight blue jeans by the store Zara, a khaki jumper and matching shirt by Burberry, and a waterproof waistcoat by outdoor clothing company Really Wild.

Middleton gave the children an insight into how she was taking to life as a royal, disclosing that she was spoilt rotten by her husband Prince William.

She told the children her job was "very busy and great fun," but she was "very well looked after".

When asked how long she would sit on the throne, she replied: "It's not actually my job yet".

Middleton was shown how to make dough sticks over the camp fire, and couldn't help but giggle as she was invited into a tipi tent by eight-year-old Zahid Shanvere.

He held open the tent flap and said: "After you". "What a gentleman," she said, as she stepped inside.

After lunch, she left by helicopter for Gloucestershire where Prince William, who turns 30 this week, was due play in a charity polo match against his brother, Prince Harry.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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