When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cross the border into Scotland, they’re known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn. Today, the Strathearns popped up to Dundee for a day chock full of engagements focusing on mental health and young people. The trip to the city – which is not far from their alma mater, University of St. Andrews – included:
- A visit to ‘s Rep theatre for Family Fun Day.
- A visit with young volunteers with See Me, a Scotland-wide initiative to end mental health stigma. The volunteers discussed their experiences and how they were helping others.
- A stop at The Corner, which runs a drop-in centre for teenagers wanting advice on issues like contraception or exam stress, and peer-led and outreach services.
- An anti-bullying workshop, organised by Scotland’s anti-bullying service RespectMe, which included a video around the dangers of social media.
- Meeting with young leaders working on ways to improve mental health and they joined a discussion organised by Young Scotland In Mind.
- A stop at explorer Captain Scott’s ship RRS (Royal Research Ship) Discovery, which was built in Dundee and carried him – and a young Ernest Shackleton – on their first expedition to Antarctica in 1901.
- A meeting at Abertay University with young beneficiaries of BAFTA’s support for new talent in the games industry.
The Telegraph‘s Gordon Rayner spoke with Fearghas Simpson, 28, one of the well-wishers with whom Catherine stopped for a chat during a walkabout. Simpson asked if William was still riding his Ducati bikes, a hobby that doesn’t put his wife’s mind at ease.
“He’s still riding it. It always fills me with horror when he goes out on it,” she said. “I’m terrified,” Catherine told Simpson. “Hopefully, I’m going to keep George off it.”
Judging from the tweets and stories (courtesy of royal reporters at the engagements) William and Catherine were fantastic with the crowds outside, as well as the people with whom they visited at each meeting. When asked if they tried Scottish country dancing while at university, Kate said “yes” but that neither she nor William were very good at it, according to the Daily Mirror.
William and Catherine have done remarkable things for the cause, raising awareness and working to get rid of the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Princess Kate praised a group of young people @seemescotland for being “fantastic” for talking about mental health
— Simon Perry (@SPerryPeoplemag) October 23, 2015
Head over to People for more on William and Catherine’s visit.
For the official visit, Catherine wore a Christopher Kane coat (a nod to Scottish design) with her Aquatalia “Rhumba” boots (which are on sale at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom in varying sizes), a Stuart Weitzman clutch and Cornelia James gloves.
What Kate Wore has fantastic details on the coat, the cut of which resembles a pale Christopher Kane coat Catherine has worn to the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony and the 2014 Order of the Garter Service at Windsor Castle.
The couple’s next engagement is this Monday night; they’ll join Prince Harry for the red carpet premiere of Spectre.
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