The Prince and Princess of Wales have finished their trip to the Isle of Mull by taking the ferry to nearby Iona, where they were surprised by comedian Ruby Wax, who is heading to the island for a silent retreat
15:19, 30 Apr 2025Updated 16:02, 30 Apr 2025
William and Kate run into comedian Ruby Wax on the Isle of Iona (Image: Wattie Cheung / Kensington Palace)
The Prince and Princess of Wales had a surprise encounter with a comedy legend – and forced her to interrupt her silent retreat. The royal couple had an unexpected meeting with Ruby Wax today on the Isle of Iona after William and Kate had taken a ferry to the island after leaving Mull, where they had spent their anniversary carrying out engagements.
William and Kate left Mull on the public CalMac ferry to Iona, where they are expected to spend time meeting the community and learning about their way of life on the island. And as they got off the boat, they ran into Wax, who was waiting to catch the ferry in the opposite direction, where she was doing a silent retreat that she interrupted for the royal arrival.
The royal couple with Ruby who was on her own to Mull on the ferry from Iona (Image: Wattie Cheung / Kensington Palace)
She said: “It’s funny because I’m on a retreat there. And I thought, why are they interrupting my silent retreat? I mean, you could break the silent retreat for this.” She added of meeting William: “I didn’t realise he was so good-looking. He looks like his mother.”
Earlier William and Kate were welcomed by a small crowd when they arrived at the small port of Fionnphort, where the CalMac ferry to the island was waiting. After greeting the well-wishers who lined the pier, the couple spoke with ferry staff, asking them about the challenges of running services, particularly in bad weather.
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Referring to the balmy spring sunshine, Kate quipped: “We’ve chosen a good day to come today – we know the weather is not always like this.” William added: “The water is so clear out there, it’s beautiful.”
As the couple walked down to the ferry, a crew member asked whether they had enjoyed their time on Mull. William replied: “It’s been fantastic, thanks”, adding that the good weather the couple have enjoyed throughout their stay “obviously helps”.
William and Kate take the ferry from Mull to Iona (Image: Wattie Cheung / Kensington Palace)
After boarding the ferry, the pair could be seen up on the bridge in conversation with crew members while other passengers boarded beneath them. Earlier today, Kate spoke of the need for children to “get outdoors as much as they can” on a visit to a remote forest on the Isle of Mull.
Together with William, she spent the morning of their second day in Scotland immersed in the sun-bathed Ardura Community Forest on the south of the island, a haven for local families, which has been bought for local people.
Meeting a group of excited children after being presented with a miniature bouquet of flowers by one toddler, Kate, 43, spoke to locals about the benefits of being out in nature amidst the stunning surroundings. The future queen added: “It’s the small things that are important.”
The couple, known as Lord and Lady of the Isles in the Inner Hebrides, were there to meet and learn more about the Mull and Iona Ranger Service who play a hugely important part in protecting and championing the local environment.
The Ardura Acorns is one of the only early-years outdoor learning play groups on the island. It undertakes seasonal outdoor play, focusing on nature and wildlife including following trails, den building and storytelling. There, Kate chatted about studies which have long shown the benefits of the natural world on mental as well as physical health, issues which have been close to her heart since being diagnosed with cancer last February.
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