Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit to Wales 'not an excuse' to break rules, says minister
Prince William and Kate’s trip to Wales “is not an excuse” for people to claim they are confused about the rules around coronavirus, the country’s health minister has said.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, on the morning of Tuesday 8 December, as part of their whistle-stop tour around the UK.
Vaughan Gething, the health minister in the nation’s devolved government, said he was “not particularly bothered or interested” in the couple’s trip, but insisted it wasn’t an excuse for people to break rules.
It comes after Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, gave the couple a somewhat frosty reception when they crossed the Scottish border on Monday morning.
Asked about the trip, Gething told BBC Radio 4: “I’d rather that no-one was having unnecessary visits, and people always have divisive views about the monarchy, but their visit isn’t an excuse for people to say that they are confused about what they are being asked to do.
“I’m not particularly bothered or interested because I don’t think that is going to be an excuse for people to say: ‘I should go and behave in a different way and I should act as if the harm that is being seen in front of us in every part of our healthcare system is not taking place’.”
Read more: William and Kate were made aware of cross-border travel restrictions – Sturgeon
Sturgeon said the couple had visited Scotland despite being told about travel restrictions in the area.
But royal sources said the trip was planned with cooperation from all governments in the UK.
The duke and duchess, both 38, are also working on this trip, which means travel is permitted.
The couple just made one stop in Scotland, going to Edinburgh before visiting Berwick-upon-Tweed, Batley and Manchester.
In Cardiff on Tuesday they met university students at the castle, to hear about the particular challenges they faced during the pandemic.
They joined students from Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales at ‘Christmas at the Castle’, and got straight to toasting marshmallows while chatting.
Kate got some of the marshmallow stuck to her glove and giggled, telling them: “I’m going to have that marshmallow on my fingers all day.”
She wore a long red Alexander McQueen coat and a red scarf.
Their trip around the UK will end later today.
Watch: Prince William gives heartfelt thank you to key workers
