William blushes as fan tells him 'you're fit' during William and Kate's first Isle of Bute visit amid Diana book row

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

William, 44, was left laughing and 'blushing' after a fan told him he was 'fit' during a royal walkabout on Scotland's Isle of Bute on Thursday, their first official visit to the island under their Scottish titles as Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. The trip was packed with crowd moments — William was also spotted tapping his watch to hurry Kate along the queue of well-wishers, prompting cheers and one fan shouting: 'You two are f***ing brilliant.' The upbeat visit came against the backdrop of a row between King Charles and Earl Spencer over Spencer's new Diana memoir.

Kate, drawing on her hockey background, joked she feared she might 'take someone's teeth out' while trying shinty at Bute Shinty Club.

A well-wisher recalled meeting William as a child with Diana, telling him he was 'cheeky' — William grinned and replied 'I still have my moments.'

The couple ended the day at the community-owned Anchor Tavern in Port Bannatyne, which locals saved from closure in 2020.