Princess Kate's Shinty Shot Flies Inches Past Bystander on Isle of Bute

Catherine, Princess of Wales, nearly knocked a bystander's teeth out with a shinty stick on the Isle of Bute.

The Princess of Wales and Prince William visited the Bute Shinty Club on September 17, 2026, and joined in a penalty shoot-out on the pitch. Both picked up a caman to have a go. Both drew a crowd.

Shinty is a traditional Gaelic game played at pace with a curved wooden stick, called a caman, and a small, hard leather ball. The shoot-out was light-hearted. The near-miss was real.

On her third attempt, Princess Kate struck the ball wide of the goal. It flew just inches past Andy McAlindon, who was standing by the post watching, according to HELLO! Magazine. McAlindon is an influencer known as Andy The Highlander.

She stopped play to say sorry. Then she laughed about it.

She said she had been "a bit worried she was going to take someone's teeth out" with the shot. It was that close.

What makes this stand out is how quickly the visit turned hands-on. No speeches from the sidelines. William took his turn too, stick in hand, as club members looked on and talked them through it.