'We thought she might get a bit more': Prince William tells well-wishers the family thought the Queen might live longer - as Kate reveals their children are turning to 'new friends' for support

• e-mail

The Prince and Princes of Wales have revealed they are 'trying to keep everything constant' for their three children since the death of their beloved 'Gan Gan'.

While speaking with well-wishers outside the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk yesterday, the Queen's grandson Prince William also told royal fans the family thought the monarch might live for longer, as her own mother had lived until the age of 101. 

The royal couple, who moved to Windsor over the summer, had just enrolled Prince George, nine Princess Charlotte, seven and Prince Louis, four, at Lambrook School when the Queen passed away at the age of 96.

The Prince of Wales revealed the family had thought the Queen might have lived for a little bit longer as her mother, the Queen Mother, lived until 101 years old

Kate and William, both 40, greeted well-wishers outside the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk to look at tributes and read messages of condolence from members of the public

While Prince William raced up to Balmoral, where the Queen had been staying, Kate remained in Windsor to look after the children.

Now the couple, both 40, have told royal fans the children are 'settling in' after their great grandmother passed away during 'the first week of school'. But he added they were 'doing ok'.

He told well-wisher Karen Anvil: 'We're trying to keep everything constant and settled for them.'

As royal fans chatted with the Prince of Wales, he admitted there was lots of talk of the Queen's death among the pupils - and agreed it was the 'only talking point'.

The Prince of Wales also mused with well-wishers about how lovely it was that his children were able to have a relationship with their great grandmother - just as he did.

The Princess of Wales said her children were 'in a routine' and had made friends at Lambrook School, where they started term just days before the Queen passed away

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Sandringham Estate to view tributes laid from members of the public to the late Queen

He said: 'I remember my great-grandmother, you see. She lived until 101. We thought my grandmother might get a bit more...'

Kate Middleton also spoke to royal fans before she and her husband looked at tributes to the late Queen, telling them the children were 'in a routine' and coping with their great grandmother's death.

She said: 'They're in school and they're being well looked after. They're in a routine and they're happy.'

The Princess of Wales added the young princes and princess had made 'new friends'.

Speaking about the thousands of tributes that had been laid for the late Queen, Kate said: 'All the messages  and the outpouring of love for Her Majesty, I think it's really extraordinary.'

While the royal couple met with well-wishers, the Princess of Wales showed her fondness for children as she picked a young girl out of the crowd to lay down a Corgi toy she had brought as a tribute.

She spotted and spoke to schoolgirl Elizabeth Sulkovska, who was clutching a bouquet of flowers and the teddy, and invited her to walk alongside her to leave her own personal gift to Her Majesty.

Kate and William revealed their children are 'doing ok' and are 'happy' while speaking with well-wishers outside the Norfolk royal residence 

The new Princess of Wales, 40, was at the late monarch's Norfolk residence looking at the sea of tributes to the Queen with husband William. She also spoke to crowds and spotted schoolgirl Elizabeth Sulkovska, eight, clutching a bouquet of flowers and a corgi teddy

William and Kate, both 40, stepped out of a dark Range Rover near to Sandringham's historic Norwich Gates where they warmly greeted by huge crowds who had waited behind metal barriers to see the couple

Mother-of-three Kate Middleton received several bouquest of flowers from well-wishers as she greeted them outside the Sandringham Estate 

Kate chats to a member of the crowd who had gathered to meet her and Prince William outside Sandringham in Norfolk 

A small baby looks on with a look of concern as the Princess of Wales chats with people in the crowd at Sandringham 

Kate points to something in the distance - as a young girl copies her - during her walkabout in Norfolk this afternoon 

The Prince and Princess of Wales looked serious and solemn as they looked at the sea of tributes left by royal fans who wanted to pay their respects to Her late Majesty

Kate looked touched by the tributes and put her hand over her chest as she read some of the messages of condolence left by members of the public

William looked amused as he made a fuss of a young baby outside the Sandringham Estate where royal fans had gathered to pass on their condolences following the death of the Queen

The eight-year-old sobbed and had tears in her eyes as she recalled the moment: 'I went with her to put the flowers and the corgi down. She said, "Where do you think we should lay the flowers?" and I said "We should put them there".'

The Prince and Princess of Wales began yesterday's visit by stepping out of a dark Range Rover near to the estate's historic Norwich Gates where they warmly greeted by huge crowds who had waited behind metal barriers to see them. 

Just a day earlier, Prince William had joined his brother Prince Harry as they walked behind the Queen's coffin in a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she is lying in state. 

During the Sandringham visit, William told a woman that the procession was 'very difficult' and 'brought back a few memories' of walking behind his mother Diana's coffin, before - close to tears - saying to her: 'Don't cry now, you'll start me off'. 

William was also heard telling a mourner the Queen was 'everyone's grandmother', and saying Prince George, nine, understood that she had died but Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, less so. Meanwhile, Kate told a woman she would burst into tears if she read too many sympathy cards.

After finishing their engagement the couple took to their Instagram to share photos from their poignant visit.

They wrote: 'Thank you to everyone in Sandringham today.' 

Prince William will be joined by his brother Prince Harry and his cousins tomorrow evening as they attend a 15 minute vigil at Westminster Hall in memory of their grandmother, the late Queen.

The Queen's eight grandchildren will stand in silence beside her coffin, in a ceremony expected to mirror the Vigil of Princes on Monday night involving her four children.

King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward will also take part in another vigil this evening which will also be similar to the ceremony conducted on Monday night at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.