She was the woman who broke the news to the Kennedy children that their father had been shot dead.

Nanny Maud Shaw had worked for the family for several years and it was thought best that she told Caroline and JFK Jnr.

The tragic moment - and her glamorous life with America's first family - was a world away from her Sheppey roots.

Some 18 months after the assassination, the children were to join Maud on a two-day visit to stay with her sister Hettie in James Street, Sheerness.

The appearance of the world's most famous children caused quite a stir with scores of Fleet Street photographers descending on the Island, hoping to catch a glimpse.

Regulars of the town's Royal Hotel realised something unusual was happening when they found themselves in the company of several tall, athletic American bodyguards.

A local child was given sweets by a photographer to knock on Hettie Shaw's door to see if Caroline was coming out to play.

The unlucky youngster was left in tears, however, when her 'kind' offer was politely declined.

Later today, 79 photos taken by Mrs Shaw, who looked after the children for seven years, will go under the hammer at Nate D Sanders Auctions in California.

The starting price is expected to be $10,000 with Kennedy enthusiasts from around the world likely to be interested.

The children's visit to Sheerness was in part to say goodbye to Mrs Shaw who was retiring. She was to later write a book about her experiences titled White House Nanny.

The Kennedy family was was to be hit by tragedy again when JFK Jnr was killed in a plane crash in 1999, five years after his mother died.

Caroline Kennedy is the current US Ambassador to Japan.