Prince William, Princess Kate celebrate 'next generation' of heroes

The Prince and Princess of Wales reflect on their 'inspiring' visit to a new firefighting facility

By Web Desk
October 14, 2025
The future king and queen were all smiles as they toured the training centre
The future king and queen were all smiles as they toured the training centre

Prince William and Princess Kate are shining a light on the “next generation” of heroes.

On Tuesday, October 14, the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a message on their official Instagram page reflecting on their visit to a new state-of-the-art firefighting training facility during their surprise trip to Northern Ireland.

“Great to be back in Northern Ireland today!” their statement began. “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 couple went on to highlight the impressive features of the centre, noting, “The incredible site includes a flood water rescue simulator, one of only two in the world, plus a mock motorway, model village high street and even a slurry pit — all designed to create realistic, hands-on training experiences.”

The post included several photos of the couple taking part in the abovementioned exercises and riding in a firetruck alongside trainees.

Reflecting on the experience, the future king and queen added, “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.”