LONDON (AP) — A national train tour by Prince William and his wife Kate has received a frosty welcome from some leaders in Wales and Scotland, with one Welsh official saying he would rather “no one was having unnecessary visits” during the coronavirus pandemic.
William and Kate arrived in the Welsh capital of Cardiff on Tuesday for the final day of their three-day royal train tour, meant to spread Christmas cheer and thank medical staff and other frontline employees for their hard, dangerous work during the pandemic.
Britain’s Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge at Cardiff Castle on Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge are undertaking a short tour of the UK by train ahead of the Christmas holidays to pay tribute to the inspiring work in local communities. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP) 
Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive by train at Edinburgh Waverley Station on the second day of a three-day tour across the country, in Scotland, Britain December 7, 2020. During the tour William and Kate will visit communities, outstanding individuals and key workers to thank them for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. Andy Barr/PA Wire/Pool via REUTERS 
Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive on the Royal Train at Manchester Victoria station, in Manchester, Britain December 7, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool REFILE – CORRECTING DATE 
Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speak at the Holy Trinity Church of England First School in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Britain as part of their working visits across the UK ahead of the Christmas holidays to pay tribute to the work of individuals and organisations across the country in response to the coronavirus pandemic December 7, 2020. Andy Commins/Pool via REUTERS 
Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge toast marshmallows during a visit to meet students at the ‘Christmas at the Castle’ event held at Cardiff Castle, Wales, Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020, to hear how they have been supported with their mental health during lockdown, on the final day of a three-day tour across the country. (Jonathan Buckmaster/Pool via AP) 
Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge leave Batley Community Centre, Batley, England, Monday Dec. 7, 2020, after meeting volunteers who have supported elderly members of the community throughout the coronavirus outbreak, on the second day of a three-day tour across the country. During the tour William and Kate will visit communities, outstanding individuals and key workers to thank them for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP) 
Britain’s Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge talk to members of the public at Cardiff Castle on Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge are undertaking a short tour of the UK by train ahead of the Christmas holidays to pay tribute to the inspiring work in local communities. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP) 
Britain’s Kate Duchess of Cambridge at Cardiff Castle on Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge are undertaking a short tour of the UK by train ahead of the Christmas holidays to pay tribute to the inspiring work in local communities. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP) 
Britain’s Prince William talks to members of the public at Cardiff Castle on Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge are undertaking a short tour of the UK by train ahead of the Christmas holidays to pay tribute to the inspiring work in local communities. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP) 
Britain’s Kate Duchess of Cambridge talks to members of the public at Cardiff Castle on Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge are undertaking a short tour of the UK by train ahead of the Christmas holidays to pay tribute to the inspiring work in local communities. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP) 
Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are met by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Sandra Cumming as they arrive by train at Edinburgh Waverley Station on the second day of a three-day tour across the country, in Scotland, Britain December 7, 2020. During the tour William and Kate will visit communities, outstanding individuals and key workers to thank them for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. Andy Barr/PA Wire/Pool via REUTERS 
Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are seen at the balcony at London Euston station, as they embark on a three-day tour aboard the Royal train to thank frontline staff and community workers in the UK, in London, Britain, December 6, 2020. Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS
But Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said he wasn’t “particularly bothered or interested” when asked on BBC radio if he thought the couple should travel to Wales when the region has been seeing high COVID-19 infections.
Gething said Monday that Wales was the only part of the U.K. where infections were not falling at the end of November, and warned that further restrictions may be needed.
Asked if it was the right moment for the royal couple to visit, Gething said Tuesday: “I’d rather that no one was having unnecessary visits. And people always have divisive views about the monarchy, but their visit isn’t an excuse for people to say that they are confused about what they are being asked to do.”
On Monday, Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon suggested that William and Kate travelled to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh despite their office being made aware of coronavirus restrictions for those wanting to cross the border.
Royal officials have said the visits were planned in consultation with the Scottish and Welsh governments, and that William and Kate were allowed to travel across the border because they were working.
Wales and Scotland have their own devolved governments and different sets of coronavirus restrictions from England even though they are all part of the U.K. Welsh and Scottish officials have discouraged people from the rest of the U.K. from travelling to their regions without a reasonable excuse in a bid to reduce the virus’ spread.