Catherine, Princess of Wales wanted to drive at full speed with the "sirens on" when she was given a ride in a fire engine on Tuesday (14.10.25).

The 43-year-old royal and her husband made an unannounced visit to Northern Ireland to visit "innovative organisations" which are focused on growth and investment in rural areas, and their first engagement was a training centre for firefighters.

After being shown how to save flood victims and rescue casualties from high-rise buildings, the couple then took a short drive across the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Learning and Development College site in a fire engine, much to the princess' delight.

Newly-qualified firefighter Caoimge McNeice told the Daily Telegraph: "The Princess was wanting the sirens on, but she 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'."

The firefighter revealed Catherine was keen for William to have a go at driving the vehicle.

She added: "She was wanting the Prince to drive, but the driver got us there anyway."

During the demonstrations, William and Catherine were given the chance to save mock casualties who had fallen into a flood simulator but they both failed to successfully throw a line to them.

Instructor Pete Sloane said: "The water was moving at 24 knots, very fast.

"It's difficult to hit a moving target, but another go and they would have had it."

The couple's next stop was to Mallon Farm, where the pair - who have children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis - donned boots as they toured the muddy fields to see how Helen Kerr and Charlie Mallon had transformed their dairy farm into a flax farm in the hope of cultivating a crop for linen.

Catherine noted how it was "fascinating" to see the "whole journey" following some recent visits to textile manufacturers, and noted how people are growing increasingly interested in where their products have been produced.

She said: "They really do care about where things have come from - how a product is made."

William was impressed by the site.

He said: "I've been amazed by it. I want to go away and find out more about flax."

The royal couple finished the day at Long Meadow Cider, which has produced cider, apple juice and apple cider vinegar since 1968, and Catherine revealed she and her family had tried to juice their own fruit.

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

William and Catherine also picked apples on the farm before donning aprons to make potato apple bread.