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

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.”