The Duchess of Cambridge has warned that social media can become "so addictive", saying it is "hard to break away from".

The Duchess, who met with school students to discuss the challenges they face, said she had learned the online world can become "part of your lifestyle", with negative as well as positive connotations.

Raising questions over whether social media put too much pressure on young people, she emphasised the importance of students monitoring their own healthy use of apps.

The Duchess, who is pregnant with her third child, on Wednesday visited a west London school working with a children's mental health charity, spending time with pupils of all ages.

Attending Reach Academy in Feltham for her first public engagement of 2018, the Duchess chatted with three and four year-olds in the nursery before going outside to meet the school’s puppy Bear.