Britain's Duchess of Cambridge found her first public address "nerve wracking" today.

Kate delivered a speech at a UK hospice wearing a blue Reiss dress which was borrowed from her mother, who donned the outfit to Ascot in 2010.

The British royal looked stunning as she attended The Treehouse children's hospice in Ipswich, Suffolk.

"I find doing speeches nerve wracking," she confessed to one guest, according to UK newspaper The Daily Mail.

In her address to the reception for staff and supporters of the hospice, Kate confessed she wished her husband Prince William could have been by her side. The prince is serving a posting in the Falkland Islands which is expected to last six or seven weeks.

"I feel hugely honoured to be here to see this wonderful centre," she told the crowd. "I am only sorry that William can't be here today, he would love it here.

"A view of his that I share is that through team work so much can be achieved. What you have all achieved here is extraordinary."

Kate, who wrote the speech herself, also recalled her first time visiting the hospice. She was pleasantly surprised to find it was a lovely place for ill children.

"Far from being a clinical depressing place for sick children, it was a home," she said. "Most importantly, it was a family home, a happy place of stability, support and care. It was a place of fun."

She went on to add the hospice is still just as "inspirational" as she remembers. The duchess spoke of her love of children and praised the hospice for its work.

"Today I have seen again that the Treehouse is all about family and fun The feelings you inspire; the feelings of love and hope offer a chance to families to live a life they never thought could be possible."