The Prince and Princess of Wales beamed today as they stepped out in Scotland for their second day of engagements. The couple, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay and Lord and Lady of the Isles when they head north of the border, learned about the work of rangers on the Isle of Mull as royal funding was announced to safeguard two nature warden roles.
Princess Kate looked chic in casual attire as she sported a pair of dark skinny trousers, her beloved See By Chloé ankle combat boots, and a dark green top with a crisp white frilly shirt underneath. She completed the look with a khaki blazer and a dark belt. She also sported Finlay’s Vivian Marble sunglasses, which she also wore yesterday. Prince William also looked dapper in a dark polo jumper, paired with a light blue shirt, dark blue trousers and brown shoes. Today, they spent their second and final day on Mull with schoolchildren taking part in an outdoor learning session with the rangers in Ardura Community Forest.
The couple were snapped mingling with schoolchildren and their parents as they joined Ardura Acorns, an early-years outdoor learning play group. The group undertakes seasonal, outdoor play and learning with 0-5-year-olds and their carers, with activities focusing on nature and wildlife, such as following nature trails, den building, animal tracking and storytelling.
William spoke about the importance of communities and told one father: “That’s what we’ve lost, the ability to come together and know your neighbour,” and he went on to say: “You can get lost in the cities.”
Kate crouched down to speak to some of the children learning about their environment through simple tasks like gathering flowers and den building, and she later played with the youngsters by the neighbouring River Lussa, as they threw sticks into the clear running water.
Jan Dunlop from the Mull and Iona Ranger Service hosted much of the visit, and she said later about the couple: “I think they loved it, I think they really did. Catherine would have stayed all day and you could see when she got to the water, that was it.”
Grants provided by William’s conservation umbrella group, United For Wildlife’s Nature Protectors initiative, aim to ensure the protection and continuation of two ranger roles working on Mull and the neighbouring island of Iona.
The rangers lead guided events for visitors and the resident community, regularly partnering with local primary schools to ensure that every child on the islands has the opportunity to experience the natural environment around them.
Ardura is an Atlantic rainforest and one of Scotland’s most precious habitats, which has been central to the way of life of generations of Mull families.
Today’s royal visit aimed to highlight the importance of protecting and championing the natural environment.
Later, the Waleses spent private time on Iona, where they met the community and learned about their way of life on the island, after travelling there with the public ferry from Mull.
William and Kate celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on Mull on Tuesday and released a romantic image on their social media accounts to mark the moment.
