Prince William says Scotland holds his 'happiest' and 'saddest' memories, including learning about Princess Diana's death

• Prince William opened up about the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
• William said he learned of her death while in Scotland, and it's one of his "saddest" memories.
• William, 38, is currently on a royal tour of Scotland.

The Duke of Cambridge opened up about the death of his mother, Princess Diana, while in Scotland this weekend.

Prince William on Saturday spoke at the General Assembly of the Church in Scotland as part of his royal tour. During his remarks, William revealed that Scotland held some of his happiest memories.

"Scotland is incredibly important to me and will always have a special place in my heart," William, 38, said. "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."

William recalled his time in Scotland, including family barbecues with the late Prince Philip on the grill, enjoying the fresh air, and attending the University of St. Andrews for four years.

He added: "In short, Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memories. But also, my saddest."

William said he was at Balmoral Castle, a Scotland estate house owned by The Queen, when he learned his mother died.

"Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning," said William. "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."

William continued his remarks by sharing some of his most joyous memories of Scotland, including meeting his wife Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.

"George, Charlotte, and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us, and they are starting to build their own happy memories here too," said William, referring to their three children. "We have no doubt they will grow up sharing our love and connection to Scotland from the Highlands to the Central Belt, from the Islands to the Borders."

William's remarks come days after the BBC apologized for using "deceitful behavior" to secure the infamous 1995 interview with Princess Diana. An inquiry determined that journalist Martin Bashir forged bank statements to suggest the media was paying associates of the royal family for inside information about Diana.

Last week, Martin quit the BBC ahead of the inquiry's release for health reasons.

William addressed the inquiry's results with a video statement on Thursday.

-The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) May 20, 2021

On Friday, Prince Harry opened up about his reaction to Diana's death during an appearance on the series, "The Me You Can't See," for which he is co-creator and executive producer with Oprah Winfrey.

He mentioned getting panic attacks before royal engagements and that he blamed Diana's death on the media's "culture of exploitation and unethical practices."