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Catherine 'OK' with spice during Golden Mile visit

News imageReuters Kate at Bobby's restaurant in Leicester, where she can be seen looking at the selection of items on a counterReuters
The Princess of Wales visited Bobby's in Leicester

Catherine, Princess of Wales told owners of an Indian restaurant she was "OK with spice" during a visit to Leicester.

The princess also remarked that the Prince of Wales loved chocolate while visiting the Golden Mile, a road famous for having one of the highest concentrations of Indian jewellery, sari, and fashion boutiques in the UK, in the Belgrave area of the city on Thursday.

Dharmesh and Enna Lakhani, a married couple, who run Indian restaurant Bobby's, which has been in the Golden Mile for 50 years, said Catherine enjoyed the sweet and savoury snacks she tried.

Mr Lakhani said: "It was absolutely amazing, it was an honour. We couldn't even dream of something like this happening."

The princess told the restaurant owners, while sipping tea and trying savoury snacks and sweets: "Congratulations, it's amazing your business is still thriving."

She added that in a "fast-paced" world, "sitting down and eating as a family together becomes harder and harder".

Mrs Lakhani said: "She was so warm, so kind, so approachable as soon as she came in."

When trying a chutney made with green chillies, Catherine told the couple: "I'm OK with spice."

News imageJames Glossop/ The Times/ PA Wire Kate with a white jacket on, and a black car in the backgroundJames Glossop/ The Times/ PA Wire
Catherine visited award-winning choreographer and dancer Aakash Odedra at his dance school in Belgrave

The princess also visited award-winning choreographer and dancer Aakash Odedra, who was once a student of the renowned Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar, at his dance company based in the Belgrave area.

She received a garland with red roses and pearls when she arrived at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre.

After a performance by Odedra's dance company, she said: "My children would love it, they love their dance."

News imageJames Glossop/ The Times/ PA Wire Kate is speaking to people in a crowd while holding flowersJames Glossop/ The Times/ PA Wire
The princess visited the Belgrave area of Leicester on Thursday

Catherine then viewed a candlelit performance of Odedra's latest solo work, Songs Of The Bulbul, an interpretation of an ancient Sufi story about a captured songbird, to live music.

She gave Odedra a standing ovation as she clapped and said it was "so moving".

Members of the community gathered on the pavement outside the community centre to see the princess as she walked down the Golden Mile, with one girl giving her flowers to thank her for her visit.

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