Prince William and Kate Middleton have released a new photograph on the occasion of their 14th wedding anniversary, which they spent in the Isle of Mull in Scotland.
The romantic picture was posted on the couple’s official Kensington Royal social media accounts and showed the Prince and Princess of Wales lovingly holding each other as they enjoyed a quiet moment at dusk in Tobermory.
‘Wonderful to be back on the Isle of Mull,’ the caption read. ‘Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome.’
The message included a heart emoji and was signed ‘W & C’ for William and Catherine, after the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor revealed the Prince and Princess of Wales previously visited the Isle of Mull as students 20 years ago.
Royal fans shared their wishes for the couple, who have emerged stronger than ever after Kate’s battle with cancer, in the comments section on X/Twitter.
‘Such a beautiful couple,’ one person wrote.
Another said: ‘Happy 14th wedding anniversary and what a dream to spend it in such a magical place.;
Their most recent visit to the Isle of Mull will, undoubtedly, spark happy memories for the couple, who also travelled to the Scottish island while they were studying at the University of St Andrews over two decades ago.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have released a new photograph on the occasion of their 14th wedding anniversary, which they spent in the Isle of Mull in Scotland
The romantic picture was posted on the couple’s official Kensington Royal social media accounts and showed the Prince and Princess of Wales lovingly holding each other as they enjoyed a quiet moment at dusk in Tobermory
The royals enjoyed their stay so much that they even had a ‘water bomb match’ with their neighbours, sipped pints in the local pub, did their shopping in the Co-op and enjoyed a friendly BBQ with locals.
Kate and William stayed on the island in the Inner Hebrides in 2005 following their final exams at St Andrew’s University, where they first met and fell in love.
Along with a group of friends they rented Victoria Cottage on Breadalbane Street in Tobermory, famous as the brightly-coloured town of Balamory in the children’s television series featuring Josie Jump and PC Plum.
William, 22, Kate, 23, and their group enjoyed a four-day, self-catering stay at their holiday let overlooking the harbour before they returned to university for their gradation that June.
William was spotted on the ferry over from Oban, on the Scottish mainland, with passengers apparently staring in disbelief. One passenger said he was ‘very chatty’ on the boat and made no effort to hide his identity.
He was with a young woman who they didn’t think was his girlfriend, but the Mail has established that Kate did accompany him too.
William and Kate – who first crossed paths at the University of St Andrews in 2001 – are spending their anniversary north of the border. (Pictured: The royals’ 2011 wedding)
The Princess of Wales looked overjoyed to be back in Scotland today as she visited the town of Tobermory on her 14th wedding anniversary with William
The Prince and Princess were gifted a bouquet of flowers as they visited the soft play area at the Aros Hall community hub
The mother-of-three debuted a new, summery hairstyle during the trip to Scotland’s Isle of Mull today
‘They visited privately during their time at university,’ a royal source confirmed this week.
Arriving on Mull the group dropped their bags off at their cottage before popping down to the local Co-op for provisions.
‘He was very handsome and very polite,’ one member of staff said of the heir to the throne.
The future king was also seen in the local pub watching the British Lions in New Zealand and then went back to the shop with friends to buy a picnic lunch before heading out into the hills walking.
‘He was minding his own business and so did everyone else. His family have a lot of connections on the west coast of Scotland and that is probably why he has decided to holiday here,’ said a shop worker.
Discussing their visit this week, a source told the Mail yesterday: ‘William and Kate were here previously. They were open to the public, just a normal couple enjoying a break away.
‘They had fun with the local neighbours with a water bomb match and had a BBQ with them too.
‘They were just very normal people, without any royal airs and graces. It was really nice to see.’
Kate and William sampled some whiskey at a Whey-based spirit holder’s stall during their trip to an artisan market
Catherine and William visited an artisan market in Tobermory on the island, which saw glorious weather for the royal visit
Another said: ‘There was a whole gang on them just having a break, all very chilled. There was no fuss or fanfare and because William acted so low-key and normal, all the people around here did too.’
They added: ‘The funny thing was that Princess Anne was also visiting the island at the same time and they both ended up in the Co-op together.
‘What at the chances of having two members of the Royal Family here at the same time – and in the same shop?
‘Anne comes here a lot when she stops off on her boat, but it was very funny to see them both queuing together – William was standing behind her.
‘It just goes to show that if people as famous as the Royal Family don’t make a fuss, then no-one else does too. You would barely see the security with them. It was all very low-key.’
William and Catherine are visiting the Scottish Isles as part of a two-day visit to highlight their resilient local communities, as well as the wild natural beauty of the region.
It is set to be a romantic getaway, with William and Kate renting an isolated self-catering cottage for two during the visit – 14 years after they tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
The couple began the trip today with a visit to the Aros community centre, built in the 19th century and home to events from wedding receptions to pantos, yoga classes and ceilidhs. It is being renovated thanks to a partnership with their Royal Foundation.
She and her husband Prince William looked as loved up as ever as they celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary
Kate, the ‘children’s princess’, smiled and laughed as she chatted with a mother and her daughter
The couple waved to crowds before going inside Aros Hall community hub – which has partnered with their Royal Foundation
Her brunette locks glistened in the sunlight with what appeared to be new blonde highlights for the summer – on a rare day of warm weather on the Scottish island.
Kate and William waved to the crowds as they walked over to be greeted by Morven Summers, Chair of the Aros Hall Committee, and social influencer, interior designer and local resident Banjo Beale.
The royals were seen laughing as they visited the soft play area inside the hall and were gifted a bouquet of flowers in a timely move for their anniversary.
Reminiscing with locals about a private visit they made as students to the island 20 years ago, the Princess also said she still has two watercolour paintings she bought in the town hanging in a bedroom at home.
And they spoke about the three children they have had since their last trip: their love of soft play, and how the Princess visited the Waitrose café with baby Prince George for lack of any local mother and baby groups on Anglesey to take him to then.
The Prince and Princess spent more than an hour walking through the small town’s harbour front road, shaking hands and taking photographs with locals and holidaymakers.
The Prince said he could always confirm whether he had visited a place before because he is usually asked to sign the visitors’ book, joking that he may have had ‘one or two ciders’ during his long weekend on Mull as a student.
The Princess spent a long time talking to a holidaymaker who introduced himself to her as ‘from one cancer survivor to another’ and played with toddlers and babies at a new soft play their Royal Foundation has funded.
Kate also made a sweet nod to her children with a personalised necklace from Daniella Draper with their initials on
The Princess of Wales paid tribute to her husband with a subtle detail – a Cartier watch thought to have been a gift for their third wedding anniversary
The downstairs of the hall has been converted partly into a new soft play, complete with pretend play area and mini cafe for young children and their families.
It is newly-painted with a puffin mural, which the Prince and Princess were invited to paint a flower on to.
The Prince ushered his wife to do the first one, joking that she is the artistic one and that there is ‘no competition’. The Princess took her time painting a small white flower, persuading her husband to do his own.
‘I think we’ve found Banksy,’ joked Banjo Beale, the interior designer and television presenter who lives locally and is working on the renovation. ‘It’s you.’
‘Come on, please please,’ Kate asked William, handing him a paintbrush and palette, and patting him on the back and briefly leaning her head on his shoulder afterwards.
The Prince later asked a small schoolgirl to decide which flower was the best, laughing when he was told they looked exactly the same.
The Princess went on to speak to mothers about the facility, asking about the services and connections with other parents. ‘
She told them she wished there had been a similar place when she had just had Prince George while living in Anglesey, telling them that she had visited the Waitrose cafe to get out of the house and see people.
Kate appeared in fantastic spirits as she stepped out wearing a Holland Cooper blazer
Kate showed off her creative side as she painted a detail on a mural in a soft play area
The Prince and Princess visited the stunning town of Tobermory, famed for featuring in children’s hit Balamory
‘We hang out a lot at soft play’, she said, ‘Mine absolutely love it.’ William gestured to his knees to joke that ‘you still think you can do it yourself, but…’
‘It’s not usually this clean,’ he said, of the brand-new set up. ‘It’s beautiful. It’s really cosy and fun.’
Hearing about how the young families gather in the space and make friends, the Princess added: ‘You need to bring ‘the village’ together.’
Prince William played with babies, tickling their feet and asking whether they were sleeping well.
He also gave an insight into the Waleses’ future projects, saying they wants to ‘spotlight’ volunteers and community leaders around the country who are the ‘glue’ holding everything together.
At the end of the visit, the Prince was handed a bouquet of flowers and the Princess was given a home-made card featuring the handprints of children painted as if they were flowers in a vase.
‘I remember when my kids had hands like that,’ she said, measuring their small size.
William took it upon himself to swap the gifts, saying ‘I feel more comfortable holding the card.’
Upstairs in the hall, the Prince and Princess were shown some of the refurbishment work, meeting the painter, carpenter and volunteers.
The Prince spotted a photograph of his late grandmother and grandfather’s visit to the island in 1956, proclaiming it ‘amazing’
Kate, who is sometimes called the ‘children’s princess’ due to her passion for the early years, couldn’t stop smiling as she chatted with one little girl and her mother.
They were soon quick to get stuck in and help, meeting volunteers and families who help keep the space going.
The Princess of Wales revealed her handy side today as she nailed some tiles to a fridge roof and revealed she had been given a chainsaw for Christmas.
It was not clear who had given her the gift, but it appears that it will be in expert hands.
