On their second and final day in Scotland, William and Kate toured ancient woodland, played with children, visited a community hall, and took a ferry ride to a neighbouring island.
The pair, known in the country as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, conducted official visits to the Scottish Isles of Mull and Iona. Their itinerary focused on community engagement and environmental conservation.
If you missed day one’s coverage, click here.
First stop, the Ardura Community Forest, which lies to the north of the river Lussa, on the east side of Mull.
Here, the couple met with the Mull and Iona Ranger Service.
The rangers connect the local community and visitors with the forest’s landscape, history and wildlife by running activities and events that encompass a range of interests—from bat walks to stargazing, den building to beach cleans.
The rangers also provide information, monitor and maintain facilities and work closely with landowners.
As part of the visit, it was announced that William and Kate’s Royal Foundation will fund the rangers service, ensuring its survival.
In the forest, William and Kate met local preschoolers from the Ardura Acorns playgroup.
The preschoolers’ families bring their children to the forest for outdoor learning sessions.
William and Kate joined the youngsters in learning about how the rangers protect the forest.
One small child took a shine to Kate, leading her around the woodland and taking her to the river to throw sticks.
The 4-year-old told the “real-life Princess” that she’d had a dream about her the night before. Aww.
According to the official web page for the community-owned forest, it has been an important part of the lives of islanders and central to the way of life on Mull for generations of families.
The forest is steeped in history, but today it is a place used for recreation, socialising, enjoying nature and finding solace.
The ancient oakwood is part of the Atlantic rainforest, one of Scotland’s most precious habitats. It’s home to a rich and diverse array of birds, mammals and plants.
The community is working to urgently restore and protect this ancient rainforest, it’s rare and vulnerable wildlife and landscapes, to revise the damage caused by decades of commercial tree planting and harvesting under previous ownership and overgrazing by the wild deer population.
mict.co.uk
Before writing this post, I didn’t realise that the United Kingdom even had rainforest (it’s a temperate rainforest, not tropical, and there are several).
It’s thought to be more threatened than its tropical counterpart.
Kate looking through a pair of cardboard binoculars:
The next stop on William and Kate’s mini tour, the Pennyghael Community Hall.
You will remember the pair visited the Aros Community hall on day one of their visit? Aros Hall received funding from the Royal Foundation’s Community Impact programme, which has been used for upgrades and improvements, including an upgrade to the children’s play area.
Pennyghael is another recipient of the funding for similar reasons. The money will be used for vital roof repair work.
These grants will support two key community spaces on the Isle of Mull by upgrading facilities and providing new opportunities for residents of all ages to come together and take part in activities that support their health and wellbeing … Plans include playful murals, refurbished furniture, and upcycled artefacts, all designed to breathe new life into this essential community hub.
Some of the money has come through the partnerships the Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood has formed with key organisations, including The Co-op and the LEGO Group.
Next, the pair journeyed to Fionnphort to catch the CalMac ferry to the Isle of Iona.
Iona’s population is tiny, only 170 people, but it receives 130,000 visitors each year.
Before departing, the couple met with staff at the ferry terminal.
Island residents depend on the ferries—they’re essential for transport and getting supplies to and from the mainland.
When disembarking the ferry, William and Kate bumped into comedy legend Ruby Wax, who had been waiting to catch the ferry in the opposite direction.
She told the couple that she was on a retreat and breaking a “vow of silence” by chatting with them. The trio posed for pictures.
William and Kate said hello to the well-wishers who’d waited to see them before speaking with ferry staff about the challenges of running the service in bad weather.
On the island, William and Kate headed to Iona Abbey, one of Western Europe’s oldest Christian religious centres, and one of Scotland’s most sacred sites.
The pair also spent some time in a gift shop on the island.
The BBC reports that the pair spent some private time on the island, presumably to celebrate their anniversary before heading home.
Though… the following day, Kensington Palace teased a new project, captioned ‘Mother Nature’, with a video shared to social media. So, perhaps William and Kate spent a few hours filming…?
The video:
Outfit
I’ll keep this section brief, as unfortunately, life got in the way of writing this post. But here’s all the essential information you need:
Jacket: Ralph Lauren Collection, Schmitt Herringbone Blazer in Olive Green
Sweater: A coordinating olive-green cashmere V-neck sweater from Johnstons of Elgin—a Scottish brand.
Blouse: Boden Broderie Frill Cotton Shirt
Trousers: Skinny cargo pants by G-Star RAW in the colour ‘raven’. A practical choice for the outdoor activities.
Footwear: Her trusted See by Chloé lace-up Combat boots.
Necklaces: Two by Daniella Draper, featuring the initials of her children—George, Charlotte, and Louis. The Gold Fixed Alphabet Necklace and the Gold Midnight Moon Necklace.
Earrings: Spells of Love Removable Teardrop Charm Hoops in Garnet & Gold.
Sunglasses: Finlay Vivian style in ‘Marble’
Leave a Reply