London, Sep 25 (IANS): Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton on Friday made a surprise visit to a women's prison in Britain's Surrey county.

She visited HM Prison Send where she met inmates battling alcohol and drug addiction, the Daily Mail online reported.

This is Middleton's first visit to a prison.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said the visit reflected the Duchess's interest in learning how organisations support people living with substance misuse issues, and the impact of addiction within the wider family network.

"As patron of addiction charity, 'Action on Addiction', she is aware that addictions lie at the heart of so many social issues and the destructive role that substance misuse plays in vulnerable people's and communities' lives," the spokesman said.

On her visit, the Duchess said, "I was reminded today how addictions lie at the heart of so many social issues and how substance misuse can play such destructive role in vulnerable people's lives."

"I am grateful to the women I met for sharing their difficult personal stories with me," she added.

Send houses around 280 female prisoners, with a majority serving life sentences, mostly for murder.