![\"Poignant:](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2013\/12\/07\/article-0-19F1FAA100000578-7_306x614.jpg\")
The Duchess of Cambridge broke down in tears when she was told that Nelson Mandela had died, it was revealed last night.<\/p>\n \tThe Duchess of Cambridge broke down in tears when she was told that Nelson Mandela had died, it was revealed last night.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\tShe and Prince William were at a royal premiere in London of a new film about\u00a0 Mr Mandela’s life when the news was broken to them.<\/p>\n
\tThe Duchess, who was sitting next to William during Thursday evening’s screening of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, was said to be ‘very moved’ when she was told 15 minutes before the end\u00a0 of the movie.<\/p>\n
\tAnd she left the cinema in tears, according to the film’s executive producer Harvey Weinstein.<\/p>\n
\t‘Kate was very emotional, she was in tears and very moved by the events. We all were,’ he said.<\/p>\n
\t‘There is nothing to describe the momentousness of what happened. The Duke and Duchess handled themselves very elegantly.’<\/p>\n
\tBut William was also struggling to contain his emotions, Mr Weinstein said.<\/p>\n
\t‘I spoke to them downstairs in the foyer after the movie. William was deeply touched by the news, you could see it in his face, but he was being very courageous.’<\/p>\n
\tMr Weinstein said that it was poignant that William and Kate, who share a passion for Africa and were engaged to be married in Kenya, were representing the Royal Family.<\/p>\n
\tArriving for the premiere, the Duchess had walked the red carpet in a floor-length white Roland Mouret dress.<\/p>\n
\tShe and Prince William had smiled for the cameras as they met the stars of the show and Mr Mandela’s daughters Zindzi and Zenani, who had flown to London from South Africa for the premiere.<\/p>\n
\tAt 6.50pm UK time, minutes before the gala screening\u00a0 was due to start\u00a0 at the Odeon Leicester Square,\u00a0 Mr Mandela died in South Africa.<\/p>\n
\tA Royal protection officer is understood to have told Rebecca Deacon, the Duchess’s private secretary,\u00a0 who was also sitting next to her, that Mr Mandela had died.<\/p>\n