The Princess in a Mix of Pieces for Northern Ireland Engagements

The Princess of Wales was in mostly familiar styles for engagements in Northern Ireland today.

The couple’s focus was on organizations providing creative and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people in rural areas, per a palace news release.

The Prince and Princess began their day with a visit to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Learning and Development College in Cookstown. They were given a tour of the site while seated in a fire engine.

More from The Belfast Telegraph’s coverage. 

Newly qualified firefighters Caoimhe McNeice, 25, and Piarais McCaffery, 32, joined the royal guests for part of the visit, and described their experiences at the centre of excellence. Ms McNeice said about the driver: “He got us there safely, I think he was on a limit for his speed. The princess was wanting the sirens on, but he was strictly told no.”

“It was just a bit of banter, she said ‘I’d love to drive at the real speed and have the sirens on’.” Kate also wanted her husband to take the wheel, Ms McNeice said. “She was wanting the prince to drive, but the driver got us there anyway.”

The Prince and Princess met with trainees, staff, and graduates of the college, which officially opened in May.

They also took part in some training exercises. Above and below, you see part of the floodwater rescue facility.

The Princess tried throwing a life preserver as part of a drill. Here is a video from Cool FM News. 

👑🔥The Prince and Princess of Wales swap royal roles for firefighters in Northern Ireland

🎤🎥Chief Reporter @jamesgould23 joined Their Royal Highnesses on their first stop of the day – the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service’s new Learning and Development College outside… pic.twitter.com/Exfw84pYTj

— Cool FM News (@newsoncool) October 14, 2025

Another view of the royals at the training college. 

Here is a quick video from Kensington Palace about the visit to the training facility. 

It was inspiring to see trainee and newly qualified firefighters in action during a range of simulations, and to hear how this investment is creating opportunities for young people, and strengthening collaboration across emergency services in Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/DnwjB91s4L

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 14, 2025

The couple’s next stop was at Mallon Farm, a flax farm in County Tyrone. 

The site is a former dairy farm now used to grow flax. 

We learn more from this BBC story. 

The royal couple were told by Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon about the sustainable methods being used to grow flax to create linen.

They were shown the flax fields as well as the old mechanical technique of breaking bunches of flax to soften it, which the princess tried her hand at and compared the feel of it to a “hairbrush”.

Ms Keys praised the visit saying it “shines a light” on their aims to develop a sustainable linen industry.

The royals learned about shepherding flax from “field to fiber to fabric.” 

The BBC reports they were shown “…a machine from the 1940s being used to process flax to make linen, and about their efforts to promote a sustainable flax and linen industry.” Below, the Princess as she tried that 1940s device that breaks flax and softens it. 

More from People’s story.

To finish up their visit to the farm, the royal couple also met with Northern Irish linen designers and manufacturers.

The Princess of Wales has been a longtime supporter of the importance of the British textiles industry and its role as part of the U.K.’s cultural and creative voice, and she’s visited manufacturers to highlight the industry. In a personal tie, her paternal ancestors were the owners of the woollen manufacturer and merchant, William Lupton & Co, which was based in Leeds.

Kensington Palace shared this video about the flax farm on social media. 

At Mallon Farm in County Tyrone, where tradition meets innovation in the revival of Northern Ireland’s flax-to-linen heritage.

From field to fibre to fabric, Helen and Charlie are rebuilding a sustainable, local supply chain that celebrates creativity, collaboration and care for… pic.twitter.com/DF26vZ98xK

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 14, 2025

The final stop for the day was at Long Meadow Farm.

The McKeever family runs the farm, and they are now in their third generation of family members working there.

Apple juice, craft ciders, and apple cider vinegar are all produced at Long Meadow. 

Visitors are welcome at the farm for tasting sessions and tours. Below, the royals greet well-wishers and visitors at the farm.

Let’s go back to the BBC’s coverage for more information.

William and Kate viewed the production facilities and drank apple juice pressed just seconds earlier.

Mr and Mrs McKeever’s son Peter said: “The juice was freshly pressed, no added water, no added sugar. They got it in its raw, pure state and they absolutely loved it.”

The BBC also reports that Peter McKeever discussed cider with the couple, adding: “William didn’t say what he liked as a favourite, but he said he likes a dry cider.”

We learn more from The Daily Telegraph’s piece. 

Shown the farm’s apple pressing machine, the Princess said: “We tried this at home with a hand press. It was quite good fun with the children. It was very messy.”

The couple also helped out with the apple harvest, picking Golden Delicious and Bramley apple varieties….As they began peeling their baskets of apples William turned to his wife who appeared to be lagging behind and joked: “Do keep up.”

The Prince and Princess also visited Granny’s Griddle Bread and Baking Experience at Long Meadow.

We’ll go back to The Belfast Telegraph’s piece one more time. 

The final stop was for a royal bake-off, when William and Kate tried their hands at making the McKeevers’ favourite potato apple bread.

Asked what it was like to teach the future king and queen the recipe, which has been handed down through her family, Mrs McKeever said it was “just absolutely unbelievable.

“It was just as if they were an ordinary couple coming in to see how to make bread.”

Now we turn to our look at what Kate wore for the day’s engagements. 

Many readers will have recognized her Alexander McQueen coat. It is a bespoke piece inspired by military styling, worn on multiple occasions, most recently on Christmas Day in 2020. It was first noted during a January 2020 visit to Bradford, seen again in Galway in March 2020, at the launch of a train tour in December 2020, and, most recently, worn on Christmas Day 2022. 

And here is a look at the ensemble with a Barbour jacket instead of the full-length McQueen coat. 

The Princess changed into her Barbour waxed jacket, similar to this style. It is one of the brand’s basic utility designs, with a high collar, storm-fly front placket, bellows-style pockets, epaulets, and a tartan cotton lining.

She debuted a WNU (With Nothing Underneath) sweater we hadn’t seen her wear before —the British brand’s Jura Cardigan ($290). It is described as being made from “…ethically sourced yak wool from high-altitude herds on the Tibetan Plateau,” with fully biodegradable buttons. The piece is slightly cropped and has a slim fit, with ribbing at the cuff, collar, and hem. Thank you to Middleton Maven for this speedy ID. She also wore the Ralph Lauren Evilyn Birdseye Tweed Skirt ($1890) from the Ralph Lauren Collection line, which was first noted during the US state visit to the UK.

The Princess accessorized with her Brora woven leather belt.

And her Gianvito Rossi bespoke boots, a design closely resembling the brand’s Glen Boots, but with a more pointed toe.  

For the visit to the flax farm and orchard, she changed into a different pair of boots. They look like the Penelope Chilvers Riding Tassel Oiled Suede Ladies Boot seen below right in a different color, as sold at William Powell. 

They do not have the heavy lug sole seen on the oft-worn Penelope Chilvers style, nor do they have the curved zipper of the Really Wild boot.

She wore her Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoops With Baby Shamrock Charms ($295) in gold.