Prince William and Princess Kate have chosen to spend their 14th anniversary on a Scottish island locals describe as being “magical”. The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as the couple are known in Scotland, were greeted with the sound of bagpipes and cheering crowds when they arrived on the Isle of Mull today, Tuesday, April 29.
More than 200 tourists and local residents lined the main street of Tobermory, the island’s capital, to see William and Kate arrive. And it’s easy why the beloved royals chose the Isle of Mull, the fourth largest island in Scotland and home to around 3,000 people. The island boasts rows of coloured houses and independent businesses as well as miles of beautiful coastline with incredible wildlife. The charming yet remote town offers those visiting a blissful escape from the hustle and bustle of the mainland.
Originally from Canada, Carla Lamont, co-owner of seafood restaurant the Ninth Wave, told The Express the “magical island” is an escape from everyday life. Carla got a job on the island she has fallen in love with 30 years ago, met a Scotsman and, well, the rest is history.
She said: “I love it here, I wouldn’t live anywhere else. It’s a magical island, it’s like nowhere else on earth. I have lived here for 30 years after getting a job here, then I met a handsome Scotsman and never looked back.
“You can get away from it all here, it’s less populated and there is a real sense of community.”
She added: “Between May-October we usually have lovely weather but it is Scotland, there is always a chance of rain and that’s why we’re surrounded by such luscious greenery.”
Despite being a quaint island Simon Wood, manager of The Keel Row which boasts stunning seaward views, believes the Isle of “has a lot going for it” and perhaps that’s why William and Kate have chosen to spend such a special anniversary here.
Having moved to the island eight years ago, Simon told The Express how easily people fall in love with the area.
He said: “People come here and instantly fall in love with it. My wife and I moved here eight years ago, it’s quite extraordinary.
“Visitors come here again and again and don’t get bored. It’s quiet, tranquil and a haven for geology.”
Simon said that it offers a proper escape from the chaos of big cities.
He said: “People feel they have more freedom here because it is away from the big cities and commercialised areas.
“Although it is remote it is easily accessible from the mainland and has a lot going for it. We enjoy long summer days but it is very quiet and dark during the winter months.”
Scotland holds a special place in The Prince and Princess of Wales’ hearts as it is the country where they first met at University and fell in love.
The couple’s two-day visit to the Isle of Mull is aimed at celebrating remote communities and the environment.
The Princess of Wales showed off her DIY skills earlier today when she used a nail gun to help construct a sign for a Community Pantry during a visit to Aros Hall, a local community hub in Tobermory, Scotland. Tobermory was where the popular BBC children’s TV series Balamory was filmed.
The couple also posed with stallholders as they toured an artisan market in Tobermory.