Prince William and Princess Kate visit Isle of Bute in first official trip

Prince William and Princess Kate made their first official visit to the Isle of Bute on September 17, 2026, using their Scottish titles as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay to highlight community and volunteering on the island. The royal couple participated in a range of activities, from playing a traditional sport to helping with a beach cleanup, marking their inaugural trip to the island that lends its name to their titles. The visit began at Bute Shinty Club in Rothesay, where the couple tried their hand at shinty, one of Scotland's oldest sports. Kate, drawing on her field hockey background, successfully landed a shot after some initial attempts, later joking to onlookers that she worried she might "take someone's teeth out." William also took several attempts before finding his mark. The couple then joined volunteers from Beachwatch Bute for a cleanup at Ettrick Bay. Using litter pickers and reusable bags, they helped clear marine debris while chatting with residents. One volunteer, Sue Brooks, recounted that Kate declined gloves, saying she does this kind of work regularly and preferred to pick up litter directly.