Copies of a picture book which the Princess of Wales donated to High Barnet's newly opened baby bank proved a popular choice once children from needy families started choosing presents at its Christmas pop-up shop.

Kate visited Sebby’s Corner, which is in premises on the Queen’s Road Estate, off Wood Street, as part of an awareness campaign for baby banks which is being run by her Royal Foundation for the Centre for Early Childhood.

She helped to stack shelves ready for the opening of the Christmas grotto and donated 50 copies of Jill Tomlinson’s picture book, The Own Who Was Afraid of the Dark – a book she has frequently read to her own children.

Sebby’s Corner, a charity established in Borehamwood in 2021, moved to new a new base in Queen’s Road earlier this year.

It provides nappies, formula milk, clothes and other essentials for babies and small children and helps needy and vulnerable families living in Barnet, Hertfordshire, and nearby London boroughs.

The Christmas pop-up shop is open for three weeks and has collected 4,000 presents ready for distribution.

On the opening day eight children an hour were arriving at the baby bank; 1,400 have already booked their slot.  Places are available on self-referral from families in need.

Baby bank manager Jocelyn Shein (right), seen above with office assistant Katie Neligan, said the book donated by the Princess of Wales was proving highly popular – and was quite a memento.

Each child is awarded ten points on arrival – enough for a book, puzzle, and a soft and large toy.

A select group of royal editors accompanied the Princess of Wales as she toured Sebby’s Corner and her visit attracted widespread publicity in the national press.

Donating to baby banks is part of The Sun’s Christmas appeal – and its photo of the visit showed Sebby’s Corner’s founder Bianca Sakol accompanying Kate as they toured the premises.

Many of the volunteers missed out on the royal visit and they have enjoyed reading about what happened from a collection of newspaper cuttings – from left right above, Jocelyn Shein and volunteers Talia Foster and Justine Khedoory.

Both Talia and Justine said they found assisting at the centre an inspiration because they realised how important it was to help vulnerable and needy families who had babies and small children and who so appreciated their support.

“We would love to have been here when Kate came…we can hardly believe she was actually here in High Barnet,” said Talia.

“A royal visit has been a marvellous boost to what the baby bank does in supporting babies and small children.”

Justine said she felt it was so productive and uplifting to be volunteering at the baby bank and hopefully all the publicity would lead to even more donations.

On being referred for help, families needing formula milk, nappies and other essentials can either book an appointment to visit the baby bank in person to select what they need, or items can be packaged up and forwarded to them. Similarly, anyone wanting to make donations can also book an appointment via baby bank’s website, www.sebbyscorner.co.uk