Prince William and Kate Middleton were the picture of royal romance as they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on the Isle of Mull. The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, looked as loved-up as ever on this first day of their two-day engagement, which also marks Catherine’s first official overnight visit since her cancer diagnosis.
Catherine donned a relaxed outfit for day one of the outing, pairing a light blue shirt with a tweed blazer, black skinny jeans, and matching boots. Prince William was almost matching, sporting a grey blazer and dark blue trousers. It’s set to be a romantic trip for the royal couple – if a little unconventional, considering their choice of accommodation. Far from booking into a luxury hotel, Prince William and Catherine will be staying the night in a self-catered holiday cottage on Mull, surrounded by nothing but rural communities and nature, amid the breathtaking scenery of the Inner Hebrides. While this may come as a surprise to some, the Waleses are famously low-key, making it perhaps understandable that they would prompt for such modest accommodation.
When they’re at home in Windsor, William and Kate are renowned for being relaxed and informal; according to Valentine Low, author of Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind The Crown (via the The Sun), the Prince likes a ‘casual’ atmosphere. ‘The kids run around the office, and he does not want it to be stuffy,’ a palace source told the author, adding that staff are asked ‘to not wear formal attire unless it is appropriate to do so’.
Scotland is, of course, a poignant location for the Prince and Princess of Wales to visit for their wedding anniversary. The couple’s relationship began when they were students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where they both studied in the early 2000s. The Prince said in 2021 that the country was the ‘source of some of [his] happiest memories’ and revealed that it was here that he found out about the death of Princess Diana. ‘I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning. And in the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors,’ he said. ‘As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep. Alongside this painful memory is one of great joy because it was here in Scotland 20 years ago this year that I first met Catherine.’
While romance is certainly in the air during this milestone royal engagement, there is still plenty of work for the Prince and Princess of Wales to be getting on with. Their first stop on the Isle of Mull will be the picturesque town of Tobermory – perhaps most recognisable as the filming location for the children’s television show, Balamory. The pair will meet local artisans on the island before heading to a local croft, where they will learn about sustainable farming practices and the community’s approach to hospitality.
On their second day in Scotland, William and Catherine will be shown around an ancient woodland by the Mull and Iona Ranger Service, discussing the Prince’s passion for conservation and the Princess’s commitment to education. Later in the day, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay will join a group of local school children for some outdoor activities – an engagement reminiscent of Catherine’s recent outing to Lake Windermere with the Scouts.
A royal visit might be considered quite the logistical undertaking for a community like the Isle of Iona, which just 170 people call home. Fortunately, the island receives nearly 130,000 tourists a year, with holidaymakers looking to witness a more traditional way of life. That, Kensington Palace said in an official statement, is what Prince William and Catherine are hoping to focus on during their visit – ‘a powerful model for fostering a more loving, empathetic, and compassionate society through deeper connections with our surroundings and engaging more in shared endeavours.’
It will also be a time to reminisce about that glorious day on 29 April 2011, when Kate Middleton walked down the aisle of Westminster Abbey arm in arm with her father, Michael Middleton, to the tune of Sir Hubert Parry’s ‘I Was Glad’ to marry Prince William. Wearing bespoke Alexander McQueen and the Cartier Halo tiara, the future queen had her sister, Pippa Middleton, arrange her train, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip watched on from the pews. Fourteen years later, and the happy couple are clearly still glad as ever to be in each other’s company.
