William and Kate held meeting with Gordon Brown

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have held a private meeting with Gordon Brown - who recently launched a renewed campaign to keep Scotland in the UK.

William and Kate had talks with the former prime minister at the Queen's official Edinburgh residence on Thursday.

William later gave a speech describing how Scotland had shaped him, and praised its people and values.

The royal couple had spent the week on an official tour of Scotland.

In his speech at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, William said the country was "so important" to himself and his wife, and described how they had met an inspirational range of people during their visit.

The couple's meeting with Mr Brown and his wife Sarah was not publicised, but was later mentioned in the court circular - which details activities undertaken by the royals.

A spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: "During his time in Scotland Prince William has spoken to a broad range of people from different communities, including politicians from across the political spectrum."

The duke had talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the weekend and also met Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, when the royal couple - known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn when in Scotland - opened Orkney's hospital.

Mr Brown, who served as Labour prime minister between 2007 and 2010, launched his Our Scottish Future thinktank in the wake of the SNP's victory in the Scottish Parliament election earlier this month.

It has been described as a "campaigning movement" that will seek to appeal to "middle Scotland" - those who are not already entrenched in their support for or opposition to independence.

Mr Brown has said those in middle Scotland are "patriots not nationalists" who want to see greater cooperation between the UK's governments rather than continual arguments over the constitution.

He was a prominent figure in the No campaign ahead of the independence referendum in 2014, when Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK by 55%-45%.

Shortly before the referendum, the Queen was reported to have said that she hoped voters would "think very carefully about the future".

Before the Queen's reported comment, Buckingham Palace had issued a statement saying any suggestion the monarch would wish to influence the outcome of the referendum was "categorically wrong".

Ms Sturgeon has pledged to hold a second referendum on independence once the Covid pandemic ends, arguing that the people of Scotland must have the right to choose their own future.

In his speech at the General Assembly, William said the memorable people he had met on his tour "make Scotland the vibrant, friendly, innovative and determined place Catherine and I love, and is so important to us."

The duke, who is the assembly's Lord High Commissioner, added: "I'm shaped by this place.

"The abiding affection I feel for it is rooted in my experience of its everyday life in people, relationships, and its ethic of neighbourliness."