Kate Middleton joins Prince William on a boat trip to Orkney

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Kate Middleton had a quick outfit change as she joined Prince William for an action packed day in Orkney today. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were on hand to officially open Balfour Hospital, in Kirkwall, and learn more about the pioneering work of the European Marine Energy Centre, as their royal tour of Scotland continued. 

Kate, 39, started the day looking polished in a recycled £349 Massimo Dutti coat, wide-leg beige trousers and a matching clutch bag and heels by go-to accessories label Emmy London. 

The Duchess, who is styled as the Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, gave a nod to her hosts with a Strathearn tartan scarf from online retailer ScotWeb and a pair of £1,395 earrings from local brand Hamilton & Inches.

Later she swapped the formal outfit for her trusty £190 Seeland hunting jacket and £310 See by Chloe boots as she joined William at the European Marine Energy Centre and headed out to sea to see the world’s largest tidal energy turbine. The Duchess wore the heavy-duty jacket over a £119 cotton blouse from Scottish brand Brora. 

William, 38, and Kate travelled to Orkney from the Palace of Holyroodhouse – the Queen’s official Scotland residence, in Edinburgh – where they are staying while on a week-long tour of Scotland.  

The visit is part of a broader royal charm offensive to help persuade Scotland to resist the demands of nationalists for independence. 

The couple’s first stop was Balfour Hospital, which opened its doors in 2019 and replaced the old hospital, which had served the community for 90 years. 

The new facility has enabled the repatriation of many NHS services from the Scottish mainland, allowing Orkney’s population to receive most of their healthcare at home.  

The new building’s circular design is based on the 5000-year-old Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, making it a unique reflection of the local landscape in which many historical sites are circles. 

During the visit, the Duke and Duchess met a number of NHS staff to hear more about their experiences over the past year, before formally opening the hospital. 

Later the couple visited the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) – the only accredited wave and tidal test centre for marine renewable energy in the world.

Founded in 2003, the EMEC is pioneering the development of a green hydrogen economy in Orkney, having set up a hydrogen production plant in 2016, next to the tidal energy substation. 

During the visit William and Kate heard more about EMEC’s role in tackling climate change and supporting the UK’s green recovery, from marine renewable energy generation to green hydrogen production and distribution.

The Duke and Duchess also visited the fuel cell and hydrogen storage trailers at Kirkwall Pier, which take locally produced hydrogen and reconvert it back to electricity, before heading out to sea to see the world’s largest tidal energy turbine, the 2MW ‘O2’.

Prince William has been in Scotland since Friday and Kate Middleton arrived yesterday. They will return to London on Thursday.

The couple kicked off their joint engagements yesterday with a visit to Turning Point Scotland, a social care charity in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.

They learned about the support the organisation provides to those facing homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse.

Later in the afternoon they visited the pioneering Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU), and learned about the support it provides to community organisations across the country.

In the evening they were joined in the café kitchen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where they are staying, by Sikh Sanjog to prepare meals which will be distributed to vulnerable families across the Edinburgh community. 

Kate sported a £59.99 Zara blazer and pleated midi skirt by Hope Fashion in the colour of the Scottish flag, which she accessorised with a pair of £1,395 ‘flora drop’ gold earrings from Scottish brand Hamilton & Inches, which has held a Royal Warrant as silversmiths to Her Majesty the Queen for more than 120 years.

Exact details of their Scottish tour schedule is being kept under wraps but the Duke and Duchess are expected to visit St Andrews University, where they met as students 20 years ago. 

The couple will also host a special drive-in screening of Disney’s Cruella for NHS staff, and will join young carers from the local Fife area for a session of land yachting on the beach.

Their visit to Scotland is understood to be part of a wider strategy to emphasise the ‘cultural bonds’ between Scotland and the rest of the union. 

The Queen is passionate about the union and spends her annual summer break at Balmoral.

Her subtle comment about the independence referendum in 2014 – asking people to ‘think carefully about the future’ – while staying at Balmoral, was credited with influencing the vote to remain.

In his address on Saturday to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, Prince William not only touched upon some of the most private aspects of his life, but also struck a conciliatory tone.

‘It is my duty today to speak, but equally I am here to listen,’ he said. ‘In Scotland this week I will have my eyes and ears permanently open. Along with listening this week, there is something I do want to tell you.

‘Scotland is incredibly important to me and will always have a special place in my heart.’

William, who is known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, was speaking in his role as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly, a ceremonial appointment dating back to the 16th Century. 

He spoke of his happy time at St Andrews university as a student and training as a pilot in Inverness, adding: ‘Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memories. But also my saddest.’

In what was interpreted as a nod to longevity, he referred to his children including Prince George, who is third in line to the throne. ‘George, Charlotte and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us, and they are starting to build their own happy memories here too,’ he said. ‘We have no doubt they will grow up sharing our love and connection to Scotland from the Highlands to the Central Belt, from the Islands to the Borders.’ 

The Queen is making plans for her traditional ‘Holyrood Week’ in early summer. Aides say there will be several ‘high-profile events where Her Majesty will be seen out and about’. 

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will also be involved but the decision to send the Cambridges ahead was a clear part of the PR strategy. A source told the Mail On Sunday: ‘It’s about opening a dialogue – listening and talking. All members of the Royal Family have a strong affinity with Scotland.’