The Duchess of Cambridge showed off her puzzling skills yesterday, when she helped a student crack a crossword clue - and was reportedly 'thrilled' to get it right.

(snip)

According to the Times, second year statistics undergraduate Jack Baird, 21, caught the royal's attention when he waved a copy of the old puzzle in the air, and asked for her help with the one clue he hadn't managed to answer.

(snip)

The clue Jack was stuck on, seven down, was about the 'sovereign’s annual allowance', and contained two words of four and five letters.

Jack said that Kate was able to succesfully provide the correct answer, which was Civil List.

'She was very excited. It didn’t look like she was going to get it for a moment. I’m really chuffed. I'm going to frame it. She looked thrilled. I think she thought, "I wouldn’t live this down if I get this wrong".'

That must have been an old crossword. The Civil List was replaced by the Sovereign's Grant 10 years ago.