Kate Middleton and Prince William delighted onlookers during their visit to Scotland, where the Prince of Wales had a playful reaction to a spontaneous compliment.
On May 22, the Prince and Princess of Wales were present at the official naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow. As the Royal Navy vessel’s sponsor, Princess Kate, 43, delivered a brief address before carrying out the traditional christening by smashing a bottle of whisky against the hull.
A video posted to Instagram captured a cheerful moment as the royal couple walked past supporters who had gathered to witness the event. One admirer called out to Kate, “You’re beautiful,” before quickly adding, “You too, William!”
During their time in Scotland, the Prince and Princess of Wales—who take on the titles Duke and Duchess of Rothesay while there—attended the ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow.
The compliment brought smiles from both royals, and Prince William offered a humorous reply that got a laugh from the crowd: “You don’t have to say that. Don’t worry.”
He then gently placed a hand on his wife’s arm as they continued on their way.
Another light-hearted moment came during a friendly pipe-building contest the couple joined. Just as Kate was announced as the winner, her construction collapsed, drawing laughter from the pair.
In a clip posted to social media by Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills, William was also heard admitting his own contraption was a bit wobbly.
The day’s events included meeting with members of the Royal Navy and Kate giving a short speech before the ceremonial whisky break. At the microphone, the Princess of Wales declared, “I have the pleasure to name this ship: HMS Glasgow. May God bless her and all who sail on her.”
Kate was first named sponsor of HMS Glasgow in 2021 and met with Royal Navy crew from the ship at Windsor Castle in 2022 to learn more about the ship’s development.