Updated: The Earl and Countess of Strathearn spend the Day in Scotland
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge carried out engagements in Scotland today, where they are styled as The Earl and Countess of Strathearn.
Today's appearance marked Kate's first engagement since the royal tour ended last month. It is believed she has been spending time at the couple's country home Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate, decorating and making preparations for moving in shortly. According to the Palace, Kate's calendar will be considerably busier during the summer months.
William and Kate began the day with a visit to Strathearn Community Campus in Crieff. The fantastic sports and leisure facilities at the campus provide many new sporting opportunities for both school children attending the campus and the wider community of the Strathearn area.
The Earl and Countess met local groups including young carers, scouts, cadets and Brownies as well as representatives of Scottish Air Ambulance. Undoubtedly an interesting event for the couple - Kate has volunteered with the scouts for some time now and it is believed William is considering a career with the Air Ambulance in East Anglia.
A nice quote from Prince William from The Mirror's live blog:
'Heidi Whitelock from Crieff, waited with her 10-year-old son Mackenzie outside the community campus. She said, "I shook William's hand and apologised for having cold hands. He said, 'Don't worry you won't be the only one today.' I asked him about George. I said, 'George is beautiful and how is he doing?' He said, 'Thanks, he's very well, he's growing and he's a very good boy.' I said how beautiful Kate is and he said 'yes she is.'
The couple are expected to visit Scotland again in July for the Order of the Thistle service.
I have a feeling Prince George will be introduced to the adorable teddy. Kate also received a toy corgi for her son. George has become quite the topic of conversation during walkabouts; today Kate revealed he wears Spider-man pyjamas.
Even Prince William was eager to have a look at the teddy bear.
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And another one (yes, we're loving the teddy bear photos here at the Duchess Kate Blog :))
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The couple spent time chatting with locals who were very excited about the royal visit.
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Their Royal Highnesses' next stop was the newly restored MacRosty Park in Crieff.
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The park has a long history of catering for family visits and has been popular for recreation, play and socialising within a landscape setting of exceptional quality. It has been an integral part of the community for over a 100 years.
Karen Bryan Flickr
The couple unveiled a plaque to mark the dedication of the park as a Field in Trust. Prince William is president of the organisation which works to secure outdoor spaces for sport and play for future generations to enjoy.
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Next, William and Kate visited The Famous Grouse Distillery where they toured the facility.
The Famous Grouse Facebook Page
They had the chance to bottle their own Glenturret malt at the country's oldest distillery and to sample Scotland's national drink during their visit.
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Kate enjoyed a shot of £55 Strathearn heather rose gin and tonic and said, "I'd better not drink too much because of all the whisky I've had at Glenturret".
The Famous Grouse Facebook Page
Royal reporters were surprised to see Kate sampling several sips of whisky.
Rebecca English Twitter Feed
This photo should put a stop to those persistent pregnancy rumours for a while.
The Famous Grouse Facebook Page
The distillery is located on the banks of the Turret River and was legally established in 1775 to make single malt whisky. It is the most visited distillery in Scotland and its Famous Grouse is enjoyed all over the world.
Wikipedia
The royals completed their visit by viewing the local Forteviot fete where they saw local produce and met locals.
The Duchess looked regal in the Athena Wool Jacquard Coat by Scottish designer Jonathan Saunders. The stripe wool piece is from the Autumn/Winter 2013/2014 Collection and originally retailed for $2,555. It features a notched collar, single-breast pocket, full-length sleeves and flap front pockets.
Modaoperandi.com
Kate's dress is by Goat, another designer Kate has worn previously. Below we see the dress underneath the Jonathan Saunders coat.
There are a number of possibilities for Kate's dress including Goat's Thea Dress. The £420 pencil dress is beautifully cut to fit and flatter, giving you a demure yet modern silhouette. It's fully lined with front pockets and flared angle sleeve. We also look at the designer's stylish Scarlett Pleat-Front Dress.
Goat
Kate debuted a striking brooch we haven't seen her wear before. The Celtic design piece was a private wedding gift according to the Palace.
Kiki McDonough
This look worked well for Kate on a number of levels. Choosing a Scottish designer was an excellent move and the striped red pattern of the coat appeared to be a nod to Strathearn's tartan. The length of the coat and dress was perfect for Kate and I thought her hair looked lovely; straighter than usual. What did you think of today's look?
Videos
- The BBC video is here.
- ITN Source has a nice video with good footage from the events.
It was a lovely day of engagements for William and Kate. We'll next see them on 6 June when they travel to Normandy to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
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