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.
