'I'm not that old!': William's protest after child's scathing takedown

By Telegraph Reporters

Prince William has protested he is "not that old" after a child said he looked as though he was 57.

During a tour of the north of Scotland, the Prince and the Princess of Wales visited Burghead, Moray.

While speaking to pupils at Burghead primary school, the Prince of Wales answered questions from pupils, including from one pupil who asked if he had brought any soldiers of the King's Guard with him, while Catherine, Princess of Wales volunteered to time a bike race between some of the other children.

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One child asked the Prince how old he was and when he prompted the child to guess his age, they said they thought he was 57.

The 41-year-old Prince, feigning shock, said: "I'm not that old."

Catherine was also asked about her age in June.

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She told a little girl who asked how old she was: "I'm 41, don't tell anyone!" as she attended the opening of The Young V&A in London.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also impressed onlookers with their biking skills during the tour.

Hundreds of people cheered on the royal couple as they donned crash helmets and rode bikes around a series of ramps and other obstacles laid out in community gardens during their visit.

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The couple were visiting the town to learn more about the work of charity Outfit Moray, which arranges outdoor learning and adventure activity program such as mountain biking for young people to boost their confidence and self-esteem.

They spoke to the charity and a group of schoolchildren before boarding their bikes, with the Prince asking children questions including what sports they enjoyed and what football teams they supported.

He was later overheard to say he found a see-saw on a bike "tricky", but both he and Catherine managed to complete the circuit unscathed, encouraged by shouts of "Go on, William" from the crowd.

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The couple then made their way to the primary school, dressed for the Scottish weather, with the Princess of Wales wearing jeans and a padded jacket while her husband donned a wax jacket and chinos.

Tony Brown, the chief executive of Outfit Moray, said after their departure: "It's our 20th anniversary this year and what a great way to celebrate that milestone and look forward to another 20 years.

"Since the Covid pandemic we've seen a significant rise in mental health issues with young people, particularly around anxiety and loss of confidence.

"Being outdoors in nature and doing physical things is really good for mental health.

"Getting as many young people out on our programs as possible is a way of helping those that might be facing challenges."