The Prince and Princess of Wales went head to head during their latest outing in Scotland, with Princess Kate emerging victorious before crediting her children. Prince William and Princess Kate – known as the Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland – headed to Scotstoun to attend HMS Glasgow’s naming ceremony at the BAE Systems’ shipyard.
Kate was appointed as the Sponsor of HMS Glasgow, a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate designed to protect the UK’s nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers, in June 2021. On Thursday, she participated in naming the ship by releasing a bottle of whisky, which was broken against the ship’s hull. Wearing a navy blue outfit with white details and a matching hat, she announced the moment by telling guests gathered at a River Clyde berth in Glasgow: “I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her.”
The royal couple had a tour of the vessel, which is being fitted out, after the naming ceremony, then met BAE staff, apprentices and members of HMS Glasgow’s company in a nearby training centre.
There, they competed in a pipe puzzle connecting pieces of copper piping – a secondary school Stem activity – under the watchful eye of BAE apprentices.
The prince later complained he did not realise it was a competition, saying to laughter from Kate, “it’s a race? – that’s fine, then I’ll race” but when his wife was declared the winner, William replied her effort was “wobbly”.
Apprentice Natalie Black guided Kate through the test and said afterwards: “We had a little discussion about what her kids get up to and I complimented her on how well she was doing up the bolts and she said it was just like playing with the kids’ toys.”
Kate was given another task – to complete a traditional ship’s clinometer, which measures the lean angle of a vessel – and tightened a wing nut on the simple tool which will go on display on HMS Glasgow’s bridge.
During the reception, the princess repeatedly spoke about how impressed she was by the sheer scale of the ship, the number of people involved in the build and the technology on board.
