A GRINNING Prince William appeared to shrug-off the ongoing Royal drama today as he took an electric racing car for a spin during his tour of Scotland.
The future king was praised as a natural after getting behind the wheel – but confessed he “reins it in now that he’s a dad”.
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The Duke of Cambridge hopped in the driver’s seat in protective gear and a crash helmet to try out the Extreme E electric vehicle at the iconic Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife.
And the 38-year-old joked: “Put some wings on it, it would take off.”
The visit was part of William’s tour of Scotland, with the duke aiming to raise awareness for innovative projects that are aiming to positively change the dial on climate change.
William was under the watchful eye of driver Catie Munnings from Andretti United Extreme E Team.
Asked by driver Ms Munnings if he found the limits of the car, he joked: “I found the limit quite quickly. Like you said, you’ve got to go the limit and then you know where it is.”
He laughed off bumping his head while climbing out of the car after a training lap, before hitting the track.
The duke drove the car – equipped with a “Prince William” decal with a British flag – around the muddy twists and turns of the circuit.
Despite clipping a chicane on one turn, William emerged to praise from staff and drivers, saying the experience was “awesome” and he was “going to apply for a job” with the company.
“That’s my kind of racing … a track’s a track, tarmac, but this is just that bit of slideyness, that grit, and it’s heavy, you’ve really got to think about what the weight distribution is like.”
And Ms Munnings revealed: “It was an honour to meet Prince William and to drive alongside him. It just felt like having one of your mates in the car. He’s so relatable and really relaxed and a really good driver as well.
She added: “I’ve been a rally instructor for years so I was really surprised by his car control and he turned up the power as well to almost the max of what we can do in the Extreme E car as well.
“The fact that he could handle that – I think he’s ready to enter one of the races.
She said he was not nervous at all in the car.
She added: “He was lovely, sharing stories in the car about the motorbikes he rides and how he reins it in now that he’s a dad and it was really cool to get to know him.”
During the visit, the duke spoke to the developers of the technology, asking them not to go into too much detail, joking it would go over his head.
He said he was “amazed” at the technology, praising its ability to use waste water from the energy process to wash the company’s race cars.
He spoke to Alejandro Agag, founder and chief executive of Extreme E, and George Imafidon, a junior engineer on Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team.
Earlier in the day, William had opened his heart to speak about how he suffered “dark days of grief” following the death of his mum, Princess Diana.
William, who spoke at the Opening Ceremony of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, also hailed memories of meeting his future wife Kate Middleton at St Andrew’s University ten years ago.
The royal, who was greeted by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh, said: “In short, Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memories. But also, my saddest.
“I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning.
“And in the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors.
“As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep. And yet alongside this painful memory, is one of great joy.
“Because it was here in Scotland – twenty years ago this year – that I first met Catherine.
“Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”
William also told the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland how much his family love the country: “I’ve been coming to Scotland since I was a small boy.
“As I grew up, I saw how my grandmother relishes every minute she spends here. And my father is never happier than when walking among the hills.”
He added: “As we try to emerge from a long period of uncertainty and turmoil, I am grateful for the chance I will get this week to really listen, with humility and compassion, to many people in Scotland.”
The scene was in contrast from later in the day when he looked happy and relaxed as he grabbed a pint with first responders in Edinburgh to watch the Scottish Cup Final.
The Duke of Cambridge, 38, appeared to be in fine spirits at the Cold Town House as he watched St Johnstone defeat Hibs at Hampden Park.
Wills, a keen Aston Villa fan, seemed glued to the match as he chatted with a group of specially invited frontline workers.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge social media account shared a quick seven second video from the scene of the rooftop bar.
It read: “#ScottishCup final set up!
“Taking this opportunity to thank emergency responders for their dedication and commitment over the last year.”
William spoke after his brother Harry accused his family of showing “total neglect” for his mental health woes and claims dad Charles made him “suffer”.
In his doc – The Me You Can’t See – the Duke of Sussex, 36, opens up about the trauma that still haunts him after his mum was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997.
He said: “My father used to say to me when I was younger, he used to say to both William and I, ‘Well, it was like that for me so it’s going to be like that for you.’
“That doesn’t make sense. Just because you suffered, that doesn’t mean your kids have to suffer. Actually quite the opposite.”
The Queen made her first public appearance today since Harry’s comments as she visited a £3.2billion warship.
She was touring the Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth – also known as ‘Big Lizzie’ – amid a tumultuous week for the Royal Family.
The beloved monarch has not made any comment on either of the latest stories to embroil her family.
Meanwhile, William blasted the “livid and false” claims BBC journalist Bashir made to interview Diana in 1995.
Wills, just 13 at the time of the broadcast and 15 when his mother died, spoke candidly following the publication of Lord Dyson’s damning report.
The report found Bashir forged bank statements, told Diana she was being spied on and that Charles was having an affair with Tiggy Legge-Bourke — Harry and William’s nanny.
Bashir spun malicious tales in a bid to win her trust and secure a world-exclusive interview amid her divorce.
William said: “The findings are extremely concerning.
“It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said.
“The interview was a major contribution to making my parents’ relationship worse. And has since hurt countless others.
“It brings indescribable sadness to know that the BBC’s failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation that I remember from those final years with her.”
After finally agreeing to speak with Bashir, Diana referred to Camilla Parker Bowles, now Charles’s wife, when she sensationally said: “There were three of us in the marriage.”
The revelation caused shock waves across the world and led to the princess being “cast adrift” and left to fend for herself outside the royal circle.
