The royal couple’s visit to Northern Ireland highlights innovation, youth
empowerment, and world-class firefighter training.
Kensington Palace has released the first public statement from William and
Catherine following Meghan Markle’s appearance at the Fortune Most Powerful
Women Summit. The Prince and Princess of Wales shared an uplifting update from
their recent surprise visit to Northern Ireland, where they championed
“Innovation and Youth Empowerment.”
On Tuesday, October 14, the Palace posted stunning photos of the couple’s
engagement on Instagram, accompanied by a warm message:
“Great to be back in Northern Ireland today! Starting with a brilliant visit
to the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service’s new Learning and
Development College in Cookstown. A world-class facility helping to train the
next generation of firefighters.”
The statement continued, praising the centre’s cutting-edge facilities, which
include a flood water rescue simulator—one of only two in the world—along with
a mock motorway, model village, and even a slurry pit designed to create
realistic training environments. “It was inspiring to see trainee and newly
qualified firefighters in action during a range of simulations,” the message
added, “and to hear how this investment is creating opportunities for young
people and strengthening collaboration across emergency services in Northern
Ireland.”
The royal couple’s visit coincided with Meghan’s own announcement about her
upcoming holiday special. When asked about a potential third season of With
Love, Meghan shared, “Well, the holiday special is coming out in November.
It’s a really good one.”
During their Northern Ireland engagement, William and Catherine met with Chief
Fire & Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings to learn how the new Cookstown
facility—opened in May 2025—prepares trainees for real-world emergencies. The
college, the largest investment in the Fire & Rescue Service’s history,
includes a replicated village, tactical firefighting zone, and flood-water
rescue area.
The couple also took part in two live training demonstrations: one in a
warehouse setting with multiple simulated incidents and another featuring a
dramatic rescue from fast-moving water. Their visit underscored the royal
pair’s continued commitment to supporting innovation and youth development
across the United Kingdom.
