Prince William and Kate Middleton surprised locals with an unexpected joint appearance in Scotland, where the Prince and Princess of Wales traded royal formality for a rather different activity.
The couple visited the Bute Shinty Club on the Isle of Bute, with their arrival reportedly not announced in advance. During the visit, 44-year-old William and Kate joined teenagers from the club and tried their hand at shinty, the traditional Scottish Highlands game played with sticks and a ball.
Kate embraced autumnal tones for the outing, stepping out in a long chocolate-brown coat with matching trousers. William kept things equally relaxed in a khaki parka and jeans as the couple took part in the sporting session.
The appearance offered another glimpse of William and Kate together in a much more informal setting. Rather than simply watching from the sidelines, both got involved with the young players and tested their own skills on the field.
William and Kate have been married since 2011 and share three children: Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight. George recently began studying at Eton College.
Their Scottish appearance comes shortly after William’s younger brother, Prince Harry, returned to Britain with Meghan Markle and their children, seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet. Reports have suggested the Sussex family is living in the Cotswolds, away from the rest of the royal family.
Attention continues to surround William and Harry’s strained relationship, with the brothers reportedly having had little contact for years. For now, however, William and Kate appeared focused on their own royal duties — and their surprise Scottish outing produced some unusually relaxed moments.
