Prince William Begins Royal Visit to Scotland Amidst BBC Scandal and Brother’s Accusations

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, kicked off his week-long trip to Scotland with a somber mood, following his scathing criticism of the BBC's mishandling of his mother Princess Diana's Panorama interview.

The Duke was captured in new images looking glum and contemplative as he made his first appearance at the home of a lower league football club in Edinburgh.

Sitting in the stands at Ainslie Park Stadium, the home of Spartans F.C., William engaged in conversations with players while also showcasing his football skills on the pitch.

Accompanying him were grassroots players from Scotland's Mental Health Football and Well-Being League, along with former Scotland striker Stephen Thompson.

The league, supported by the Scottish FA, aims to promote recovery and combat the stigma surrounding mental health.

As the President of the Football Association, Prince William also participated in a video call with footballers from the four national teams of the United Kingdom, including England star Harry Kane.

Later in the day, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the Duke fulfilled his role as the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland by taking part in the Quays ceremony.

The Lord High Commissioner represents the Sovereign at the General Assembly and attends as an observer, appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

During the ceremony, Prince William inspected the Guard of Honour and conversed with soldiers, displaying his commitment to his duties.

The Duke's visit to Scotland coincided with his younger brother's recent attack on the royal family in the mental health documentary series, “The Me You Can't See,” co-produced by Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey.

Prince Harry, who has stepped back from his royal responsibilities and now resides in the United States with Meghan Markle, accused the royal family of neglecting his wife's mental health struggles amidst relentless social media trolling.

He expressed his disappointment, stating that every request to stop the harassment was met with silence or neglect.

The Duke of Sussex emphasized that he and Meghan made extensive efforts to make their roles within the royal family work, but ultimately decided to pursue a different path.

These latest comments from Prince Harry are expected to further intensify the already highly publicized tensions between him and the royal family, following the revealing interview conducted with Winfrey.

In March 2020, Meghan and Harry stepped down from their royal duties, seeking a new life in California.