Kate spends Valentine’s Day solo, helping kids

Kate spent Valentine’s Day without her husband, but celebrated by spreading cheer at a children’s hospital, where the young patients showered her with flowers and gifts. NBC’s Michelle Kosinski reports.

>> it was an eventful valentine's day for kate middleton , the duchess of cambridge devoted her time to others with a trip to liverpool. michelle kosinski is at buckingham palace with details on that. good morning.

>> reporter: hi, matt. for this princess there was no romantic dinner, no first valentine's day with her new husband. but the way she chose to spend it, also in service of her country, was beyond sweet. she had no shortage of flowers. and more flowers. gifts and outpourings of love. at a children's hospital in liverpool, young patients waited, many in blankets and wheelchairs. excitement keeping them warm.

>> the princess.

>> is she very beautiful?

>> yeah!

>> this young english rose brought a beautiful bouquet.

>> she said they're very pretty flowers, aren't they?

>> 8-year-old jackson had flowers, charm and cup cake saying he's sorry william can't be there.

>> dear kate , happy valentine's day.

>> oh, thank you so much.

>> reporter: kate spent her day with kids, some of whom have spent their entire lives in the hospital. who showered her with home made cards bearing her photo.

>> oh, thank you. it's beautiful.

>> reporter: when paige drew a picture of her and william, kate shared a laugh with the mother of a sick infant, played with toddler, talked at length to older ones like emily. it all made elliot's day.

>> she told me about her dog.

>> reporter: did she tell you the name?

>> yes.

>> reporter: is it a secret?

>> yes.

>> they chatted like they had known each other for ages. it was lovely. that smile said it all.

>> reporter: kate stopped at action on addiction, another of her charities. they serenaded her with a surprise from their alcohol-free bar. a smoothie called the duchess, their most popular drink. what a way to spend a holiday to celebrate what the heart can do. even among complete strangers. so willing to share.

>> the visit cheered me up. i feel a lot better.

>> is she beautiful?

>> even more beautiful than i thought.

>> reporter: kate shared another secret with a young admirer that prince william , though he's busy on duty as a search and rescue pilot and has already rescued someone, made sure there was a card and flowers waiting for kate on valentine's morning. matt?

>> michelle kosinski at buckingham palace