On October 14, 2025, Prince William and Princess Kate made a surprise visit to Northern Ireland, spending the day exploring local organizations and industries. The royal couple, both 43, made their first stop at the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service’s (NIFRS) new Learning and Development College in Cookstown. There, they participated in drills and gained insight into how the next generation of firefighters is trained. For this engagement, Princess Kate wore a familiar olive green Alexander McQueen coat dress, a staple in her wardrobe that she had previously worn during a visit to Bradford Town Hall in 2020 and again during the royal family’s Christmas church outing in 2022.
After their time at the fire service, Princess Kate quickly switched outfits in preparation for their next stop. She traded the long jacket for a shorter coat, revealing a brown skirt, and opted for flat shoes instead of her heeled boots. The quick change set the stage for their visit to Mallon Farm, a flax farm in County Tyrone dedicated to reviving flax growing and linen production in an environmentally conscious way.
At the farm, Princess Kate got hands-on, trying out a restored heritage machine used for “breaking and scutching” the flax. She and Prince William learned from Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon about the flax-growing process and how the raw material is transformed from “field to fibre to fabric.” They also met with Northern Irish linen designers and manufacturers, continuing Kate’s long-standing support for the British textiles industry.
Kate’s personal connection to the industry runs deep, as her paternal ancestors once owned the woollen manufacturer William Lupton & Co. in Leeds. Throughout her royal engagements, she has consistently highlighted the importance of the textile industry as a cultural and creative pillar of the U.K.
This visit marked the couple’s first trip to Northern Ireland since becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth. It was also a return for Prince William, who had visited Belfast in November 2024 to engage with local communities, including a memorable experience on a motorbike simulator at a university.
Kate’s engagement in Northern Ireland reinforced her commitment to supporting local industries, with a particular focus on sustainability and heritage, all while continuing to connect with the people and causes that matter most to her.
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