Prince William Shares His Love of the Countryside During Scotland Visit with a Special Purpose

Prince William is rolling up his sleeves to tackle mental well-being in rural areas.

The prince, 42, headed to Scotland — where he is titled the Duke of Rothesay — on Feb. 6 to shine a spotlight on some community-led organizations that help support those facing isolation in farming communities and countryside areas.

William's first stop was a farm in Carnoustie, Angus to talk to the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), a charity working throughout the U.K. to address the attitudes towards farm safety and poor mental health among the next generation of farmers.

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During a roundtable discussion, the dad of three spoke about combatting loneliness and rural isolation. The group from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs has been leading the campaign and conservation efforts regarding loneliness in farming. In 2016, they launched ‘Are Ewe Okay?’ which aimed to break the stigma surrounding mental well-being for young farmers in rural Scotland.

"I love the countryside, and I love farming as well," he said. "I'm conscious that it's an area that needs maybe support in understanding that there's access to support out there."

Prince William added, "I think in the farming world, it's maybe — it's not talked about as much...yet we know it exists."

Prince William and Kate Middleton, who both champion mental well-being in their royal work, have been open about their love of spending time outdoors with their three children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. Kate said in a 2020 podcast interview that her favorite times are "outside in the countryside, and we're all filthy dirty."

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Prince William's second stop took him a short journey away to a Men’s Shed in Carnoustie to hear from the men and women there about how the organization helps build a sense of community and supports members in learning new skills – and thereby improve their mental health.

The 10-year-old Carnoustie and Monifieth Men’s Shed is run by local volunteers who meet weekly to lead activities like woodwork, crafting and gardening.

Members told him about how the Men’s Shed has enriched their lives by helping them to form friendships and engage in creative and purposeful learning activities.

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These visits were William's latest effort to support those in farming communities and tackle mental health concerns. He and wife Princess Kate, 43, place mental health at the heart of many of their campaigns.

In 2023, the Duchy of Cornwall and William launched a new Mental Health Strategy for Duchy tenants, which is designed to prioritize farmers’ mental health and de-stigmatize the issue within the agricultural sector.

It's been a busy week for Prince William with causes close to his heart. On Wednesday, Feb 5, he was at a busy center in Widnes, England run by the charity Child Bereavement UK.

The visits came amid a busy period for William and Kate, who is gradually returning to public royal duties following the news that she is in "remission" from cancer. On Feb. 4, Kate visited the National Portrait Gallery with a group of happy schoolchildren to promote the latest stage of her early years mission.

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