The Duchess of Cambridge has given her first speech on foreign soil in which she hailed the work of the hospice movement in Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking slowly but clearly through a PA system, she described the centres that care for and support the terminally ill as "life changing".

Kate gave her speech as she visited Hospis Malaysia, one of only a handful of medical institutions in the Commonwealth country providing support for dying patients.

Prince William and staff and supporters from the hospice listened as the Duchess highlighted how she had learnt the importance of palliative care through her role as patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

She added: "Providing children and their families with a place of support, care and enhancement at a time of great need is simply life changing.

"With effective palliative care lives can be transformed. Treatment, support, care and advice can provide a lifeline to families at a time of great need."