Prince William and Princess Kate marked their 14th wedding anniversary on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, choosing a modest cottage stay and community engagements over private celebration, in their first overnight royal tour since the Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived Tuesday to the sound of bagpipes in Tobermory, the island's main town. Their two-day visit to the Inner Hebrides highlights support for rural communities and the environment, Kensington Palace said. It coincides with their wedding anniversary, a date the couple traditionally commemorates privately.
Rather than a formal celebration, William and Kate planned to prepare food and join a community feast after visiting Tobermory's artisan market. They stayed in a self-catering cottage to support the local tourism industry, part of efforts to boost the economies of the remote islands they are visiting.
"It says a lot about them," a longtime friend of the couple told PEOPLE. "They could be doing something opulent but this is typically down to earth. They love being in nature, switching off and just being together."
The visit underscores the deep ties the couple have with Scotland, where they met at the University of St Andrews more than two decades ago. They also hold the Scottish titles of the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay and the Lord and Lady of the Isles.
Kate's return to public life comes after completing a grueling course of chemotherapy last year. The princess has spoken of her "relief" at finishing treatment and the "joy" that her work brings her. A portrait released earlier this year showed Kate leaning against a willow tree, symbolizing her renewed connection with nature during her recovery.
During the visit, William and Kate will travel by ferry to the Isle of Iona, home to about 170 residents and a major pilgrimage site. They are scheduled to join schoolchildren for an outdoor lesson in the ancient Ardura Forest, an area known for its cultural and ecological significance.
Kensington Palace announced Tuesday that the couple's Royal Foundation will support the renovation of two community spaces on Mull: Aros Hall in Tobermory and Pennyghael Community Hall in the south of the island. A partnership with the Lego Group will add new play equipment to both facilities.
"It's an absolute joy to be working with the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales to redesign and preserve these vital community spaces," Banjo Beale, a Mull resident and presenter of BBC's Designing the Hebrides, said in a statement. "Together, we're not just restoring old walls - we're reimagining what's possible when community and creativity come together."
Sources close to the couple emphasized that the anniversary trip is a reflection of William and Kate's renewed sense of perspective following a challenging year. "They are not showy in the slightest," the friend added, recalling that in the past, Prince William had gifted Kate a pair of binoculars she "absolutely loved" for an anniversary.
