The royal visitors try a wee dram of Scotland’s favourite tipple at the Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret – with Kate sensibly sticking to the less alcohol- heavy versions IN SCOTLAND ON THEIR FIRST ENGAGEMENT SINCE THE TRIUMPHANT TOUR DOWN UNDER THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF STRATHEARN TALK REVEALINGLY ABOUT THEIR LITTLE PRINCE – AND SCOTCH NEW PREGNANCY RUMOURS erhaps it was the gloriously green Scottish perhaps helped by spending the previous night at Prince William and Kate. Kate said William drinks Plandscape of Strathearn, or maybe it was the the famous Gleneagles Hotel, without their sleep more than her and does seem to prefer more peaty genteel charm of a quintessentially British village being disturbed by their baby son Prince George, whisky. We were quite surprised at how many fete decked out with bunting, saltire banners and who reportedly stayed at home in London. different whiskies they tried.” Union !ags. Sampling Scotland’s most famous export may The visit would seem to scotch speculation in the Strolling through the tea and cakes tent and also have contributed to their fun day. While visiting US press that the 32-year-old Duchess is pregnant. inspecting the wonderful produce on show, the Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest whisky distillery, to She dispelled the rumours again later in the day Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – or the Earl and open its new-look Famous Grouse Experience when she enjoyed a tot of rose petal and heather Countess of Strathearn as they are of"cially known visitor attraction, William was urged to sample a gin at a village fete. north of the border – were visibly more relaxed “wee dram” of 40˚ malt, straight from the still. “It’s delicious,” she said. “But I shouldn’t have too than usual as they made their inaugural visit to the The Earl of Strathearn bravely downed the tot, much gin because of the whisky I had at Glenturret.” place whose name they bear. saying: “I’ll give anything a go; I will probably regret At the end of their visit to the distillery, the For their "rst of"cial engagement together since it later.” His eyes appeared to water and he croaked: couple were invited to bottle their own whisky and returning from their tour Down Under it seemed “That’s pretty busy,” then he passed it over to his were also given a personalised bottle, specially that Kate had brought back some of the Aussie wife, who said: “I’ll stick with that girlie one,” labelled The Famous Strathearn, along with a sunshine, wearing a smile as broad as Loch Lomond referring to the less alcoholic Snow Grouse and squeaky toy grouse for their ten-month-old son. and as bright as her red coat by Scottish designer Naked Grouse blends she had been offered. Not realising it made a noise, Kate squeezed it Jonathan Saunders, worn over a geranium-coloured With the merest hint of a grimace, she took a few and jumped. “Oh my goodness, listen to that. He dress by British brand Goat. In a nod to her hosts, sips and said: “Nice, I like them.” will just love that,” she said. 50 she pinned a Celtic knot brooch, a private wedding Their game spirit endeared the couple to Stuart Earlier, at their first appointment of the day, present from a friend, on her chest. Cassells, the general manager of the attraction, who William’s future career was put in the V Prince William and his wife’s merry mood was later recounted: “They said they liked whisky, both spotlight when the couple visited the HELLO1331p050-055.indd 50 31/05/14 04:05 ‘William and Kate said they liked whisky… We were quite surprised at how many different types they tried’ 51 HELLO1331p050-055.indd 51 31/05/14 04:19 The couple unveil a plaque at the distillery (above). Kate wears an Athena coat by Jonathan Saunders, a vibrant dress by Goat, an LK Bennett clutch and heels and favourite earrings by Kiki McDonough (left) ‘We now have so many hundreds of teddies that we never ever need to buy George a present ever again’ Strathearn Community Campus in everyone’s minds as the royal visitors Crieff to meet young carers and a moved on to the regenerated crew from Scotland’s Charity Air MacRosty Park in Crieff to unveil a Ambulance service. plaque. Here, both William and It emerged last week that the Kate were bombarded with gifts for second in line to the throne, who their boy and happily chatted about left his job as an RAF Search and the infant. Rescue Service pilot last year, is Noticing a child wearing a Spider- considering returning to flying Man shirt, Kate told the mother: from September – possibly as a “George has got Spider-Man pyjamas helicopter pilot for the air but they’re too big for him just now.” ambulance service in East Anglia, When a trio of pupils from the close to the Cambridges’ country local Ardvreck School presented home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. William with a teddy bear for his son, Royal aides insist that no decision the Earl laughed: “We now have so about his future has yet been made, many hundreds of teddies that we adding that an announcement will never ever need to buy him a present be made soon. But the 31-year-old ever again.” Duke did not exactly play down the Soon afterwards he and Kate were rumours as he met the helicopter given a giant teddy wearing a kilt, crew. “He was really keen to see how which she hugged with delight. we work,” said lead paramedic John Spotting a woman holding her Pritchard. baby boy in the crowd, William Alan Bell, a founder of the charity called out: “I see you’ve got your service, which has been operating own little George.” “He’s called for just over a year and has been Harry,” she said. “Ah like my called out to about 300 emergencies, brother,” he replied. And with the added: “He was very, very interested. concern of an experienced dad, he He knew quite a lot about the air looked at the small, tired face and ambulance network in England and added: “He has probably had a long Wales. He didn’t say anything about morning waiting here.” his own plans, but I would certainly Also on the walkabout, William welcome him on to the team.” spied an Australian !ag and stopped For all his experience as a to ask teenage gap-year students helicopter pilot, William later Daniel Goodburn and Madison admitted that he had been scared Bland: “What are you doing here? the first time he flew solo as he Are you following me?” presented an air ambulance cadet “Yes, we are, we were in Sydney with his !ying wings. the other day,” said Madison, quickly adding: “Only joking. We’re BONNY PRINCE GEORGIE teaching rugby at Ardvreck School.” 52 Although their baby wasn’t with William smiled at the Australian them in Perth and Kinross, little reference: “Ah, Sydney is a V Prince George was certainly on great place,” he told them. HELLO1331p050-055.indd 52 31/05/14 04:06 During their stroll around Crieff’s MacRosty Park, the Earl and Countess are presented with a teddy bear dressed in the Strathearn tartan for baby Prince George. Later, they are handed another gift for their son, a hand-crafted kilt made to the same pattern (below right). William meets the crew from Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance service (below left) – adding fuel to rumours that he may be piloting similar helicopters in England soon 53 HELLO1331p050-055.indd 53 31/05/14 04:06 ‘They thought the kilt for George was lovely and Kate said, “We will have to keep his sticky fingers off it”’ The couple’s !nal engagement in Strathearn was a visit to the Forteviot village fete, where Kate happily wandered around the stalls, sampling chocolates and ice cream and laughing at a portrait of herself, William and George made from sweets. In the village hall she was given a more conventional portrait of herself, painted by local artist Tom Sutton-Smith. He was on holiday last week and unable to make it to the fete, but presenting it to Kate on his behalf was Glenys Andrews, who explained: “He saw the official painting [by Paul Emsley] which was unveiled last year and decided to do one himself. He !nished it and then heard about this fete and asked me to give it to the Duchess.” William took one look at the painting and said: “Wow! Brilliant. Fantastic. That is going in my room at home.” The portrait is now winging its way to Kensington Palace. But that wasn’t the only gift Kate received. She was delighted when given a small kilt for her son. William saw it and said: “I haven’t worn a kilt since I was a child, and I probably should do.” Kilt maker Marion Foster later told !"##$%: “This is the ancient Strathearn tartan and will !t about a two-year-old. It can be let out or altered and will probably !t him until he is around !ve. “They thought it was lovely, they were really tickled pink by it and Kate added, ‘We will have to keep his sticky !ngers off it.’” GRAND DESIGNS Before they left, Kate met Theresa Edwards, director of the Strathearn Stone & Timber company. “We’ve been doing up our house recently,” Kate told her, probably referring to Anmer Hall. “I’m looking for !replaces, and I can’t !nd what I want anywhere.” After a chat she left happily saying: “I’ll look at your website.” As she and her husband drove off to catch a plane home, the traditional Scottish farewell went with them: “Haste ye back!” William’s next appearance, however, was in London on Friday, attending the England v Peru football friendly at Wembley Stadium in his capacity as president of the FA.