Prince William goes huntin', shootin' and textin'

He had a cap on his head, a gun under his arm and faithful dog at his side, but the only thing holding his attention was his mobile phone.

As his uncles and grandfather enthusiastically took aim and proudly collected their kill, the 24-year-old was texting furiously.

It looked like William was lovesick and communicating with his pretty girlfriend Kate Middleton, who is spending Christmas with her family in Scotland.

'There were birds flying right over William's head but he didn't seem to be bothered about the shoot at all,' said one.

'He was texting away on his phone most of the time.

'He didn't make any calls as he never brought it up to his ear, but he was sending a lot of messages and kept on looking down at it to check for replies.

'He wasn't seen shooting a thing, whereas Edward was shooting everything that moved and the Duke was pretty keen. He was just in his own little world.'

Kate, also 24, is believed to have declined an invitation from the Queen to spend Christmas with the Royals, telling friends she will only join William at Sandringham if she marries him.

As a result they are spending a week apart, with William believed to have accepted an invitation from Kate's parents, Carole and Michael, to join them for New Year at a rented farmhouse in rural Angus, Scotland.

The house party will be the perfect excuse for him to soon escape the royal gathering at the Queen's Norfolk estate.

The shooting party took place on an unusually mild Boxing Day, but the Royals decided it was still wise to dress up warm.

Princess Eugenie, 16, opted for a black bobble hat while the Queen stepped out in a thick winter coat and headscarf.

Also in the party were the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Zara and Peter Phillips, Princess Beatrice and William's uncles Andrew and Edward.

The downcast prince may also have been missing the company of his brother Harry, 22, who remained on duty at Windsor Barracks, fulfilling his duties for the Household Cavalry.

While the Royals steadfastly uphold the tradition of going out shooting on Boxing Day, the younger members seem to show slightly less interest than their elders.

Last year, Prince Harry was photographed calmly smoking a cigarette during the shoot.

However, on the same occasion William was described as a 'great shot', and the birds were tumbling out of the sky as he picked them off one by one.

After the event - during which his younger female cousins strolled along and chatted to their grandmother - the party had lunch at a shooting lodge on the estate.