The heartwarming moment Prince William and Kate moved a Batley street to tears at the end of a most difficult year

Neighbours watched open-mouthed as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walked down their street with a brass band in tow playing Christmas songs.

Residents in Batley couldn’t believe what they were seeing as the Royal couple paid a special visit to the home of an elderly man the Duchess had befriended on the phone.

The Duchess first spoke to Len Gardner, 85, when she phoned him last May as part of the NHS Check In and Chat scheme.

The couple got on like a house on fire and Len told the Duchess he loved Italian pasta - and a few days after that 30-minute conversation the Duchess sent him a pasta machine and some fresh pasta.

Seven months on and the Duke and Duchess paid a visit to Batley as part of a Royal Train tour of the UK.

The couple called in at Batley Community Centre in the town centre, meeting Len and volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service, who helped elderly people during the pandemic.

After an hour the Royal cavalcade then made the short trip to Len’s neat semi-detached home in Carlinghow.

News of the Royal visitors had spread on social media and neighbours were lining the streets, phones in hand to record the amazing moment the future King and Queen walked down their road.

The Duke and Duchess pulled up and walked with Len a few hundred yards to his home with the Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band playing Christmas songs.

When they reached Len’s home he went inside to fetch his wife Shirley, 84, who has dementia.

The Royal couple waited patiently on the roadside as Len brought Shirley to the door. She seemed reluctant to step into the cold until they stepped forward and came half-way up the drive.

Shirley caught sight of a smiling Duchess and her face lit up - and suddenly there was no keeping her inside.

She and Len then spent almost 10 minutes chatting to the Royal couple on their driveway - Len and Shirley swaying gently to the band’s rendition of Winter Wonderland, while the Duchess clapped along.

The couple then left Christmas presents and a hamper before bidding the couple farewell and standing to listen to the band and leading neighbours in a round of applause.

Former Scout leader Len, who worked in textiles for 50 years, said the initial phone call with the Duchess was “quite something to take in for an ordinary guy.”

But he told of how the pair got on like a house on fire.

“We talked about our children and she asked about holidays and I said Italy was my favourite place and I talked about my love of pasta.

“She asked if I owned a pasta machine and I said: ‘No, love’ - I used that real Yorkshire phrase.

“We talked about ordinary things and it was just so natural. Four days later a brand new pasta machine arrived along with two kilos of Italian pasta. We’ve eaten it, of course. Every time we have pasta now it’s called Royal pasta! It tastes different somehow.”

Len said he was blown away by the Duchess and added: “If she is the future then she is just the kind of person we want.”

After the visit to his home, Len was overwhelmed but bursting with pride.

“They loved the Christmas tree in my garden and they said how they appreciated what I do to care for my wife during this terrible time.

“They asked how I cope, well you just get up and get on with it.

“It’s been a brilliant day. People have been so kind, it’s hard to put into words.”

Neighbours huddled outside for as glimpse of Royalty and the younger generation were also impressed. Lauren McManus, 21, said: It’s given everyone a lift and brings a real sense of community and hope to people.

“We have been caring for my grandma since my grandad died in March. It’s been a hard year for everyone but this is something special to remember.”

Charlotte Jowett, 22, added: “I love William and Kate, they are so genuine. It was just surreal to see them on my street.”