Princess Kate and First Lady Melania Trump appeared to lay the foundations for what could be a lasting friendship, Buckingham Palace and White House insiders have suggested.
The pair took centre stage during the two-day State Visit that brought US President Donald Trump and an American delegation to Windsor earlier this month.
As well as taking on formal roles at the magnificent State Banquet, both Kate and Mrs Trump appeared relaxed and friendly as they enjoyed a rare joint engagement away from the pomp and ceremony.
The two women spent the autumn morning of September 18 with four and five-year-old Squirrels, the youngest Scout members, in Frogmore Gardens.
Princess Kate was seen to forge a bond with First Lady Melania Trump during the US State Visit earlier this month
White House sources have indicated that the more intimate engagement with the Princess of Wales was “absolutely” the highlight of Mrs Trump’s time in the UK.
“You could very much see how warm and friendly they were after spending time together," said a Kensington Palace source also said.
"They were chatting away and they both really enjoyed the engagement.
“The First Lady was super-relaxed and she really enjoyed her time with the Princess,” they explained.
The Princess of Wales and First Lady spent time with young Scouts in the grounds of Frogmore Cottage
|GETTY
"It's definitely the start of what looks set to be a very warm, long-term relationship between Kate and Melania,” another insider told Hello! Magazine.
During the engagement, Kate and Mrs Trump helped the children with nature activities, drawing pictures and building bug hotels together.
The Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, who led the day’s activities, saw their budding bond first hand - and predicted they could team up again in the future.
"From what I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if they were to go away and collaborate on something in the US," Mr Fields said after the heartwarming visit.
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, who led the day's activities, felt a future partnership between the two women was now on the cards
|GETTY
He pointed out that having Princess Kate as joint patron of the Scouts opened up a myriad of possibilities.
Mr Fields explained that he could even foresee a joint initiative with American Scouts.
There could be an opportunity for such a team up if President Trump inks an invitation to the Royal Family for a State Visit of their own to the US.
A senior White House Official let slip such an invite may be forthcoming when he said the UK and royals had “set the bar high for their trip to see us”.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Mrs Trump was said to have 'absolutely' seen her time with Kate as the highlight of her UK visit
|GETTY
Kate and Mrs Trump’s warm relationship will have also greatly pleased the US leader himself, according to London-based CNN anchor Max Foster.
Mr Foster observed: "It's so important to him (Trump) that she is treated with respect and is as much a part of the occasion as, if not more than, himself.”
“The way the Palace integrated the First Lady would have been noticed.”
“She wasn't seen as someone accompanying the President; she was treated as someone who was as much of a guest as the President. And I think he would have really, really valued that,” the broadcaster explained.