The Duchess of Cambridge is presented with an Aslan lion toy as she hosts 150 children and young people from The Art Room at a performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Kensington Gardens. Photo: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire

The Duchess of Cambridge, formerly Kate Middleton, did not have to go far when she entered the magical land of Narnia.

The Duchess of Cambridge with children and actors at a performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in London. Photo: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire

She attended the new production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, which is being staged almost in her front garden.

A special ThreeSixty Theatre performance for children and teenagers with The Art Room charity, of which Kate is patron, took place in the show’s circus tent in Kensington Gardens.

Kate travelled on foot from nearby Kensington Palace, where she lives with William when he is not working as a search and rescue pilot on Anglesey, north Wales.

The Duchess, who wore a teal dress from high street retailer Zara, she watched the show with children from the charity before chatting with them during the interval.

She was given a cuddly toy of Aslan, the heroic lion at the centre of the Narnia books, by schoolgirl Suhani Kapoor.

Kate asked one group of youngsters: “What I want to know is: has anyone tried Turkish Delight?” - a reference to the sweet used by the White Witch to entice Edmund Pevensie away from his siblings in Lewis’s story.

She chatted with another group, asking if the show had been scary for them.

“No screaming too loudly,” she said.

“I can now see your faces in the crowd so if you scream I know who you are!”