Prince William and Kate Middleton Praise ‘Incredible’ Kelpies During Landmark Visit

Prince William and Kate Middleton praised the “incredible” The Kelpies during their visit to Scotland. The Prince and Princess of Wales are spending time north of the border to spotlight Scottish heritage and the ways in which local traditions help unite communities across the country.

On Tuesday, January 20, they visited Helix Park near Falkirk, where they came face to face with the striking horse-head sculptures. The iconic landmarks stand beside the Forth and Clyde Canal and were created by sculptor Andy Scott, with construction completed in October 2013.

The two towering horse-head sculptures stand at 98 feet tall and are constructed from a steel framework, finished with stainless steel panels. They loom over the nearby M9 motorway, making them an unmissable sight for passing traffic.

In a fitting nod to the royal visit, The Kelpies are named Duke and Baron.

The couple, who first met while studying at University of St Andrews — the oldest university in Scotland — were keen to learn more about the legendary sculptures. On their shared Instagram account, they posted a photo of themselves standing in front of The Kelpies.

They wrote: Meeting Duke and Baron. Starting the day in Scotland at The Kelpies, learning about the mythology and remarkable craftsmanship behind these incredible sculptures.

In the image, Kate is seen wearing a blue checked jacket layered over a black turtleneck, while William coordinated his look with a dark blue blazer worn over a brown jumper.

Their post quickly attracted attention, amassing more than 30,000 likes within just half an hour. Royal fans flooded the comments, praising the couple and describing them as “beautiful” and “fantastic.”

Helix Park offers guided tours of The Kelpies, giving visitors insight into the history of the mythical horse figures as well as sculptor Andy Scott’s creative journey in bringing the towering 30-metre structures to life.

In Scottish folklore, kelpies were shape-shifting spirits believed to inhabit lochs. They were said to possess the strength of ten ordinary horses and could take on human form whenever they chose.

The Falkirk landmarks also symbolise the role of heavy horses in Scotland’s industrial heritage, with their position beside the canal serving as a tribute to the tow horses that once worked along these waterways.

William and Kate also paid a visit to the National Curling Academy in Stirling. Curling, a sport with deep roots in Scotland — and one in which the nation has long excelled — remains an important part of the country’s sporting identity.

With the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics set to begin next month, followed by the Paralympic Games in March, the timing was ideal to spotlight the sport. During the visit, the Prince and Princess met the teams preparing to travel to northern Italy to compete.

Team GB will be represented on the ice by two all-Scottish line-ups. Bruce Mouat will lead his rink alongside Hammy McMillan, Bobby Lammie and Grant Hardie, with Kyle Waddell named as alternate, as they aim to improve on the silver medal they secured at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

The men’s side arrive as reigning World Champions, a title they also claimed in 2023, and they have lifted the European Championship trophy on four occasions. While Team GB secured gold in the women’s event at the last Games, a new line-up will represent Britain in Italy this time.

The women’s team will be led by skipper Sophie Jackson, who unusually also plays as lead. She is joined by Sophie Sinclair, Jennifer Dodds and Rebecca Morrison, with Fay Henderson named as alternate. Mouat and Dodds are also set to partner up in the mixed doubles competition.

Meanwhile, Paralympics GB’s curling squad will feature English athletes for the first time. Jo Butterfield, originally from Yorkshire but now representing Scotland, claimed gold in club throw at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics and will compete alongside Jason Kean in the new mixed doubles event, as she bids to add a Winter Paralympic title to her achievements.

The mixed team squad also includes Karen Aspey and Stewart Pimblett, alongside Scottish curlers Austin McKenzie, Hugh Nibloe and Graeme Stewart.

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