William and Kate 'ignored calls not to go to Scotland' on UK train tour: report

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 'ignored' warnings not to go to Scotland on their UK tour amid the coronavirus pandemic, a new report claims.

Prince William and Kate went to Edinburgh on the royal train last month as part of a tour of England, Wales and Scotland, which aimed to thank those working on the frontline.

RELATED: Prince William's emotional message as virus spikes in the UK

But according to Scottish newspaper The National, the Royal family were told by Scottish officials via email to consider not going.

The Scottish government had warned residents only essential travel was allowed in the country, which has had almost 5000 COVID-19 deaths.

However, official rules telling people not to cross the border between England and Scotland except for vital reasons such as work didn't come into place until a couple of weeks after the visit.

The country's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, advised the UK government of the advice, and reports now claim more emails were sent to the royals - but were ignored.

Sturgeon was earlier accused of being 'petty' over the situation.

RELATED: Scottish MPs call for the British throne to 'be retired immediately'

According to reports, an email from her principal private secretary, told the Royals on November 12: "You'll know that we are currently asking people living in Scotland to avoid unnecessary travel from local authority to local authority and to keep journeys within the area they live to an absolute minimum.

"I think my view is that at the moment the chances of the tour having to be postponed are potentially quite high."

Another official, James Hynd, the Scottish Government's head of cabinet, parliament and governance, also said new advice expected about travel in Scotland was likely to have a "major impact" on the trip.

RELATED: William and Kate start royal train tour of UK

Scottish politicians criticised the tour going ahead.

Edinburgh North and Leith MP Deidre Brock said it was 'irresponsible".

William and Kate visited frontline workers in Edinburgh one one of eight locations across the UK. It was thought to have been the Duchess' first time aboard the royal train.

Prince William had coronavirus last year.