Beaming Princess of Wales pats William affectionately as the couple share a loved-up moment on surprise visit to Northern Ireland

The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared a sweet moment together during their surprise day-long visit to Northern Ireland today.

In a tender scene, Kate was photographed affectionately placing her hand on Prince William’s back before the royal couple, both 43, rode in a fire truck and watched trainee firefighters take part in drills.

The pair, who looked perfectly in step in coordinated brown suede shoes, watched as emergency workers simulated rescuing a casualty from a fast-flowing river and toured a warehouse space where others practised high rise rope and ladder rescues.

Kate and William were visiting Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service’s £50million new Learning and Development College, near Cookstown, County Tyrone, which opened in May.

They were shown around by Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings, walking past a replica village into a training warehouse where the drills were taking place.

The couple met two recent graduates of the 18-week training course, firefighters Piarais McCaffery and Caoimhe McNeice, to hear about their experience of training at the 50-acre site, which is set in the countryside.

World class facilities include a flood water rescue simulator – one of only two in the world at a Fire service training facility – and, after watching hose drills outside the warehouse, the Prince and Princess boarded the fire appliance to head there and watch the simulated floodwater rescue.

The college is the largest investment ever undertaken by the NIFRS and is a training centre for all NIFRS employees. Training with other emergency service workers and partner agencies also takes place there.

NIFRS chief fire officer Aidan Jennings described the visit as ‘a proud and unforgettable day’ for the service. 

Aidan said: ‘With a one team ethos in NIFRS, our personnel work together to help make Northern Ireland a safer place. It was a privilege to have our royal visitors meet many people across our Service and recognise their commitment, dedication and enthusiasm in doing so.

‘I’m honoured that the Prince and Princess witnessed first-hand how the real-life scenario-based training facilities are revolutionising how we train and develop our people enabling us to meet the evolving needs of a modern-day Fire & Rescue Service. 

‘Our next generation of Firefighters currently undergoing their training at the college clearly demonstrated that today in their display of operational skills and capabilities.

‘I would like to sincerely thank the Prince and Princess for their visit, their kind words, support and recognition of the work of all our people in NIFRS dedicated to serving our community and keeping people safe.

‘I would also like to thank the Northern Ireland Office, the Executive Office and the Department of Health for their efforts and support in making this memorable visit possible.’

William and Kate are spending the day visiting organisations that showcase growth and investment in rural areas and demonstrate entrepreneurial and creative opportunities for young people.

It is the first time that the royal couple have visited Northern Ireland together since October 2022.

The prince and princess’ visit comes after it was revealed that the royal couple are hoping to move into their new Windsor home by Bonfire Night.

Kate and William had initially planned to quit Adelaide Cottage on the royal Windsor estate and be in neighbouring Forest Lodge by Christmas.

But builders have been working around the clock to bring their moving date forward, the Daily Mail revealed.

With the work now complete the couple are hopeful their move is ‘imminent’ and they will be in by November 5.

A new 150-acre, Home Office-agreed security cordon is in place around the eight-bedroom Georgian mansion, with staff now transferring the family’s belongings into the newly renovated property.

‘It is hoped they will be in the new home in time for Bonfire Night,’ a source told the Daily Mail yesterday. ‘That will make a fun start for the children.’

William and Kate have been keen to provide a ‘fresh start’ for their three children: Prince George, 12, who will start senior school next autumn, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.

Although the family had planned to live in cosy four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage for many more years, their time there has been beset by unhappy memories.

The couple moved their children from Kensington Palace to Berkshire in August 2022 to provide them with a more protected, rural upbringing and be close to William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

However she died within weeks of them moving in, the first in a series of family challenges which included the release of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s vitriolic Netflix series in December that year, followed by Prince Harry’s scathing memoir, Spare, the following January which signalled another series of attacks on the Royal Family, but particularly on William and Kate.

Then last year both the princess and King Charles were diagnosed with cancer.

Kate underwent a gruelling course of preventative chemotherapy, with William describing the experience of supporting his wife and protecting their children as ‘brutal’.

The princess is now happily in remission but there is no doubt that her experience has left her more determined than ever to put family first as she and William juggle parental duties with their growing royal roles as the future king and queen.

‘Adelaide Cottage really does have some difficult memories associated with it, sadly,’ a source said. ‘They have experienced some of their most challenging times there… The family are really happy about this [move] and excited for a fresh start.’

Another source added: ‘The builders have been working flat out, week-in, week-out, so that the family could move in as soon as possible. Christmas was always the deadline but it’s great that it’s going to happen much earlier.’ 

Apparently the princess has been thoroughly enjoying renovating Forest Lodge, sourcing much of the furniture and furnishings from UK companies including Marina Mill in Kent, which she recently visited, trying her hand at textile printing.

‘I think it’s been quite a fun process for her,’ the source added. ‘She loves interior design and is a big champion of the British textiles industry. After all, this will be their forever home. They are ready as a family to move forwards.’

Indeed, Kensington Palace has made clear that the prince and princess intend to remain in Forest Lodge even after they accede to the throne, in a break with recent tradition.

It is also understood that there will be no live-in staff in Berkshire in order to maintain the privacy they crave. Employees have moved into nearby homes on the Windsor Great Park estate, the Daily Mail can confirm.

The Waleses have funded the move and refurbishment themselves and will be paying market rent to the Crown Estate.

The 328-year-old Grade-II property has undergone modest internal and external renovations including new doors and windows, the stripping out of walls, renovated ceilings and new floors. It was last renovated in 2001 at a cost of £1.5million.