A SCOUT was honoured to meet the Duchess of Cambridge after receiving the highest honour a member can achieve.

Anne Carr, of Mathon, near Malvern, said it was amazing to see the six-months-pregnant Kate Middleton up close as she and chief scout Bear Grylls inspected the 400 Queen’s Scouts at Windsor Castle.

Miss Carr, aged 19, had spent more than a year rising to the challenge of completing the Queen’s Scout Award, which recognises personal achievement, endeavour and service to others.

She said: “It was an amazing day and I was very proud to be there.

“It was an honour to see the Duchess especially as it was her first time doing the review because usually the Queen takes part.

“She walked past and said ‘hello’ and afterwards we had a lovely service in the chapel.”

Miss Carr fits volunteering at 1st Colwall Scout Group and attending the Western unit in Ledbury around studying geography at the University of Exeter.

The Duchess of Cambridge publicly joined the Scouts last year and is a flexible volunteer helping out in North Wales.

The movement has seen a marked rise in the number of women following the Duchess’s lead.

In Worcester, 23 women have signed up since the Duchess began volunteering – up 12 per cent on the same period during the previous year.

Miss Carr said: “I think it is very important that people like the Duchess get involved with Scouting and it is wonderful to have her as part of the movement.

“She and Bear Grylls help to enthuse young people and I think it is great that more girls and women are getting involved in Scouting because of her.

“I have found Scouting has put me on a level playing field as the boys and it has been a big part of my life.”

Hereford and Worcester is the 10th fastest growing place for membership in the UK. Despite an increase in volunteers, there are 114 young people in Worcester waiting to join a troop.

Adults thinking of volunteering should visit scouts.org.uk/get-involved.