The Prince and Princess of Wales jump on mountain bikes in Scotland - best photos

The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled to Scotland for their first joint engagement after the October school break.

Prince William and Princess Kate, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, met organisations supporting rural communities in Moray and Inverness.

The couple's first port of call was Outfit Moray - an award-winning charity delivering life-changing outdoor learning and adventure activity programmes for young people in the area.

The organisation focuses on supporting those between eight and 18 and has worked with more than 16,000 young people since its creation in 2003.

It runs a large range of activities including mountain biking, paddlesports, rock climbing, archery and bushcraft.

William and Kate joined the Outfit Moray team at Burghead Primary School where they saw a mountain bike session in action. 

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And the sporty pair couldn't resist having a go!

Before jumping on the mountain bikes, William could be heard asking the childreb questions including what sports they enjoy and what football teams they support.

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He was later overhead to say he found a see-saw on a bike “tricky”, but both he and Kate managed to complete the circuit unscathed, encouraged by shouts of “Go on, William” from well-wishers.

The Princess sported a quilted checked Burberry jacket with a pair of flared jeans and boots for her outing, while the Prince matched his wife in a khaki overcoat. 

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Outfit Moray chief executive Tony Brown said after their departure: "It’s our 20th anniversary this year and what a great way to celebrate that milestone and look forward to another 20 years.

"Since the Covid pandemic we’ve seen a significant rise in mental health issues with young people, particularly around anxiety and loss of confidence."

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He added: "Being outdoors in nature and doing physical things is really good for mental health. Getting as many young people out on our programmes as possible is a way of helping those that might be facing challenges."

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William and Kate's next engagement saw visit family-run Brodieshill Farm where they met members of the Lower Speyside Young Farmers group and representatives from Farmstrong Scotland. 

They learned about the support being offered to young people at the business, run by Robert Manson and his wife Nicola, along with his parents Colin and Irene.

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Lower Speyside Young Farmers is run for young people from any background aged between 14 and 29 across the local area, providing opportunities for socialising and interaction.

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The Prince and Princess also met families who attend regular sessions at the farm's dedicated play area, which offers an indoor and outdoor area for play where families can focus on and connect with their children. 

Developed to provide a space for young children to explore and learn, Brodiehill offers an indoor and outdoor area for play where families can focus on and connect with their children.

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Lucy McGillivray, who farms at Glenlivet, Moray, and is a National Farmers Union Scotland representative, said William and Kate were interested in her farming journey as well as the impact of recent floods on the region.

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She said: "A couple of members lost their lives in the flooding and there has been a huge amount of financial loss; for example, fields of crops worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. I just really explained the impact of the flooding and they were asking where I lived and about the subsidies.

"They were just lovely people – really down to earth."

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