From August 3, 2005 Historic Royal Palaces bosses were branded as archaic after a visitor was reproached for breastfeeding her child in Hampton Court’s Great Hall.

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) hit out at the palace after member Margaret Mikkelsen, 30, was directed to the mother-and-baby room while nursing her six-month-old daughter.

Mothers in Kingston came out in support of Ms Mikkelsen, who said she was made to feel “self-conscious” after being approached by an attendant.

She said: “What I objected to was the look of disgust on the member of staff’s face. It made me feel I was doing something disgusting. Ever since, I have felt self-conscious when breastfeeding in public.”

Responding to Ms Mikkelsen’s complaint, Historic Royal Palaces, that runs Hampton Court, said its policy was that all visitors should have their chests covered when inside the buildings.

In a letter, a spokeswoman said: “We have many visitors of all ages and nationalities who find women breastfeeding either offensive or a distraction to their visit.

“The mother-and-baby room is the only area of the palace where we can guarantee privacy.”

But mother-of-two Christine Nevins, from Chessington, said mother-and-baby rooms were like toilets.

She said: “If you have a coffee in a restaurant, you don’t want to sit in there to drink it or feed your baby in a toilet area.

“I think if you are discreet about breastfeeding, you shouldn’t offend anyone.”

Another mother, Claire Rice, who was still breastfeeding her baby, said: “I think it is disgusting that Ms Mikkelsen was asked to move.

“If you are a first-time mum who is a bit self-conscious, then there should be somewhere you can go, but you should have the right to feed your baby wherever you like when it is hungry.”

NCT chief executive Belinda Phipps said: “The palaces may be interested to know that a recent poll showed 84 per cent of adults do not have a problem with women breastfeeding in public.

10 YEARS AGO: August 3, 2005

The mayor of Kingston Councillor Yogan Yoganathan led Kingston Council to victory in its annual cricket match against Kingston Racial Equality Council.

The mayor had his opponents stumped at the Manor Park event thanks to help from council staff, including stalwart media manager Jack Taylor.

25 YEARS AGO: August 3, 1990

Blue movies were soon to be pumped into Chessington homes, alarming Christian campaigners, who were striving to hold back the advancing tide of pornography.

Cable TV was due in Kingston within four years. Campaigners feared for the minds of young children, as well as adults’ morals.

50 YEARS AGO: August 4, 1965

Two Surbiton teens, both of Tolworth secondary school, were selected to swim for Britain.

Sheila Burrows, 19, was selected for the World University Games, in Budapest, and Rosalind Ingram, 17, was to challenge at the Jewish World Games. Both were members of Kingston Ladies’ Swimming Club.