The Princess of Wales jokingly told residents that she might go for a swim off the Isle of Bute, despite sea temperatures sitting at a bracing 13C (55F).
Kate also delighted royal fans with her agility, climbing down from a tractor smoothly as she joined islanders for a community beach litter pick.
Kate and Prince William were making their first official visit to the picturesque Scottish island, located off the western coast in the Firth of Clyde. Their trip highlighted the area’s strong community spirit and culture of volunteering.
The visit followed a public war of words this week between William’s father, King Charles, and his uncle, Earl Spencer, over Spencer’s new memoir about Princess Diana.
New footage shows the royal couple—known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland—meeting local residents and taking part in a royal walkabout on Thursday.
In one clip, Princess Kate joked with the crowd: “Next time I’m going to go for a swim. Apparently there’s a sauna that appears, live music, apparently that’s really good.”
Her playful comment prompted laughter from onlookers, while locals acknowledged that the chilly water would probably appeal only to experienced swimmers.
During winter, sea temperatures around the Isle of Bute can fall as low as 7C (45F).
Princess Kate joked with the crowd: “Next time I’m going to go for a swim”
The Princess of Wales made the quip knowing that sea temperatures around the island can drop to as little as 7C during winter
Kate also told residents that Princess Anne enjoys sailing around the Isle of Bute
Kate was seen climbing out of the tractor cab, with Prince William at the wheel, as the couple joined islanders for a beach litter pick on the Isle of Bute
Kate swung herself around and jumped down onto the beach before closing the tractor door, without the slightest stumble
Kate impressed royal fans by showcasing her natural athleticism while maintaining her stylish look
Speaking about Princess Anne’s fondness for the island, she said: “The Princess Royal comes sailing around here, I can see why. She often shows us her photographs. It’s really beautiful.”
In another video, Kate emerged from the tractor cab while Prince William sat behind the wheel. The couple had joined local residents taking part in the beach clean-up.
The Princess looked stylish in a smart autumn outfit, wearing a chocolate brown trench coat over an olive-green ribbed turtleneck sweater and finishing the look with an olive Bakerboy hat.
After opening the door, Kate quickly swung herself around and jumped onto the beach before shutting the tractor door, completing the move without a stumble.
It was not the first time Kate had demonstrated her athletic ability while keeping her appearance effortlessly polished.
Last October, the Princess of Wales left royal fans “in awe” when she smoothly descended a narrow staircase after looking inside a cockpit during a visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
She amazed observers at the time by flawlessly strutting up and down an aircraft’s boarding stairs in four-inch navy stilettos from Stuart Weitzman.
After she had finished peering into the plane, Kate then followed the pilot, perfectly climbing the narrow stairs backwards without stumbling.
Reacting to the latest video, fans applauded the royal for her natural grace.
One wrote: ‘Elegance, Catherine is thy name. Even getting out of a tractor.’
Another drew comparisons to her visit to RAF Coningsby, adding: ‘Truly. It’s like going up and down the airplane stairs.’
A third said the royal must have ‘some serious arm strength’ because tractor doors ‘weigh an absolute tonne’.
The couple were later seen on a royal walkabout happily chatting to dozens of residents on the Isle of Bute in Scotland and posing for selfies.
While on the island, the couple also visited Bute Shinty Club and watched an under-17s match from the side-lines alongside locals.
When it was the couple’s turn to try the sport – which like hockey is played with a curved stick and small, hard ball – they quickly learned hand-eye co-ordination is key as they practised taking penalties.
The royal couple were seen driving a tractor as they joined Beachwatch Bute on a litter pick
Kate looked stylish in an autumnal ensemble featuring a chocolate brown trench coast and Bakerboy hat
William fluffed his first shot, with the ball moving just a few inches, before making solid contact to cheers from the spectators.
Kate fared little better at the start, swinging and missing – but her next shot was cheered by the crowds as it flew at the goalie.
She then peppered the goal with more shots, almost hitting members of the press who were closest to the netting and saying ‘sorry’ in apology.
The couple chatted to the crowds after their shinty display and Kate told content creator Andy McAlindon, known as Andy the Highlander, who was stood beside the goal: ‘I was a bit worried I was going to take your teeth out.’
Former Bute shinty player Tom McMillan said: ‘I think they did very well, Kate hit the ball better than William and she really got into it and was lining the balls up.’
They ended their day at the community-owned Anchor Tavern Pub and Hub in Port Bannatyne and William praised their model, where a large number of volunteers help keep the project financially viable, and Kate described it as something ‘special’.
William and Kate arrived on Bute at their namesake town of Rothesay, arriving by ferry from the mainland.
They toured the islands of Iona and Mull in the Inner Hebrides last year.
Kate and William meet people outside the Anchor Tavern Pub and Hub in Port Bannatyne
Members of the public watch in Port Bannatyne during the royal visit on Thursday afternoon
Prince William meets a group of schoolchildren in Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute
Their trip came amid a public dispute between the King and Earl Spencer, who claims in a new book about his late sister Diana that Charles told him ‘rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough’ days after her death.
Further claims from the book – serialised in Our News Outlet – said the King sounded ‘giddily elated… like a lottery winner’ when he rang the earl following the princess’s death.
In other passages of the book the earl described how his sister drove ‘more than once’ to the cliffs at Beachy Head in East Sussex and was ‘contemplating ending it all’, adding that ‘her love for her sons stopped her from going further’.
The excerpt went on to claim Diana told her brother ‘my husband is in love with his valet’ after telling him she was going to get divorced.
The palace has yet to respond to the latest claims but a spokesman said on Wednesday that ‘fraternal grief can cloud reason’.
READ MORE: King at war with Diana’s brother after astonishing response to Earl’s claim that he said she would be ‘forgotten’ days after her death
