Second Day Royal Tour in Northern Ireland 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were greeted by hundreds of cheering well-wishers as they arrived for the second day of their Northern Ireland visit with Kate telling fans: "I'm feeling a little broody."

Several hundred people lined the streets of Ballymena as William and Kate went on a walkabout. Kate admitted feeling a “little broody” when she met a cute 5-month old baby on the walkabout of the Co Antrim town. She was smitten by James Barr and told his dad Alan, “He’s gorgeous. It makes me feel broody.”

Alan asked, “Baby number four?” The Duchess laughed and said, “I think William would be little worried.”

The crowds, many waving flags, braved the cold outside the Braid Centre.

The crowds, many waving flags, braved the cold outside the Braid Centre.

Kate Middleton Surprise Trip to Ireland with Prince William 2019

Kate Middleton and Prince William have secretly jetted off to Northern Ireland for a two-day trip that will "celebrate the young people" in the region, Kensington Palace announced in a press release. 

The royal couple is starting the tour with a stop in Belfast with an engagement Windsor Park stadium, where they'll learn about the International Football Association's outreach programs benefitting the local communities' physical and mental wellbeing. The project hits close to home for the Duke of Cambridge, who is president-delegate of England's Football Association.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have touched down in Belfast for their previously unannounced two-day visit to Northern Ireland. William and Kate – or Baron and Lady Carrickfergus as they're known in Northern Ireland – spent the day meeting locals and carrying out a string of engagements.

Despite the surprise nature of the trip, the Duchess of Cambridge looks classy as always, opting for a bold red coat by Carolina Herrera for first day of tour. She layered the bright piece of outerwear over a black sweater, leggings, and a pair of lace-up ankle boots, which appear to be her pair from L.K.Bennett. 

Earlier in the day, she charmed in a retro-looking red coat that recalled the style of another fashion legend, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

The double-breasted, crimson coat, which the duchess wore on a visit to the Irish Football Association, is similar to one worn by the late first lady in early 1960, as John F. Kennedy announced his plans to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

As it happens, the duchess’s coat was designed by Carolina Herrera, who created looks for Jackie Kennedy in her later years.

The duchess paired the coat with opaque black tights, laced ankle boots and her signature, flawless blowout.

Day one of their trip had a strong focus on the positive impact that sport, nature and the outdoors can have on childhood development, and improved physical and mental health for all.

William and Kate started with a visit to Windsor Park, where they learnt about the Irish Football Association's community Football projects, and how sport can play a role in bringing communities together. The royals then travelled to County Fermanagh where they visited a youth centre, before returning to the capital for a party at the iconic Belfast Empire Hall. Let's take a look at the best photos from the Duke and Duchess' first day in Northern Ireland.

The duchess also wore the coat during a visit to Canada in 2016, pairing it with neutral tights and classic pumps.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Get Affectionate While Playing Soccer in Belfast

During Prince William and Kate Middleton's surprise two-day trip to Northern Ireland, the royal couple played soccer at National Football Stadium at Windsor Park and exchanged adorable PDA moments throughout the game. Despite getting competitive during the match, Kate was seen putting her hand on William's back at one point, and he put his hand on her arm. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are less likely to show PDA during official engagements, but they do sneak in some sweet exchanges from time to time, like at Princess Eugenie's wedding last fall.

William and Kate learnt about the IFA's community Football projects and met a number of representatives from a variety of sports programmes, including Female Football Leaders, which encourages more women into key decision roles within football, and Powerchair, a programme designed for wheelchair users.

The married couple seemed to be in high spirits as they laughed and played with young school children. According to The Telegraph, Will teased Kate about her soccer skills—or lack thereof. He jokingly told the kids, "Look out, she goes for the ankles," and shouted out, "Tackle her!"

The publication added that Kate told a group of young children that her five-year-old son Prince George is also learning how to play "the beautiful game." The duchess kept it real with the young children, telling them what her son really thinks about his mother's soccer skills. "Mummy, you’re so rubbish," Middleton quipped. "I should have picked up some tips from George," she added.

Their day of outdoor activity wasn't just limited to the soccer field. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also participated in a canoe race, where William's team beat Kate's, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph. Despite the loss, Kate was seen with a smile on her face in the canoe as she held her paddle.

During the visit Kate and William had a private talk with some of the youngsters using the centre, with the media and other onlookers excluded. Charlie Mack, the chief executive of Extern, the charity which runs the centre, said: "It was an opportunity for them to listen directly to the young people. They were on their own. They specifically asked that they wanted to engage directly with them." 

The royal couple later posed with the group for this photograph.

Kate Middleton attends party at Belfast's Empire Music Hall

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are spending Wednesday and Thursday carrying out a number of engagements in Belfast, Fermanagh and Ballymena.

Kate and William wave to well-wishers in Belfast tonight.

Their engagements include a visit to Windsor Park Stadium, home of the Irish Football Association, activities at the Roscor Youth Village in Fermanagh, and Cinemagic-a charity that uses film, television and digital technologies to inspire young people and finally dropping in on a SureStart early years programme.

Kate and William, who arrived for a surprise visit to the city on Wednesday, are attending a party celebrating young people who are making a difference in Northern Ireland.

Kate is greeted as she arrives at the Empire Music Hall.

A band called LARKS will take to the stage tonight, and guests will encompass representatives from Northern Ireland's business, arts and sport sectors including Dame Mary Peters who was today appointed Lady Companion of the Most Noble of the Garter by the Queen.

In a speech, William praised Dame Mary Peters' work for the 'common good' and said many could learn from her example.

He said: 'Catherine and I are grateful to be amongst so many inspirational young leaders this evening. Over the course of the day, we've had the great privilege of meeting some of you personally and seeing first-hand the work that you are doing.

'From using sport to encourage people to talk openly about mental health to delivering services to children and young people who are at risk of entering care or custody - the work you do transcends community divisions and is helping deliver a brighter future for everybody in Northern Ireland.

'And as we celebrate those who are leading that change for the next generation, it is also fitting that we recognise somebody else in the room this evening - who helped inspire so many of you in the first place.

'Mary Peters, is not only one of the United Kingdom's sporting legends, she's also inspired generation after generation to come together in times of trouble and work for the common good - a lesson I hope many of us can learn from.

'So it was fitting today that Her Majesty The Queen has appointed Mary to be a Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter - one of the UK's highest honours. And I hope you can all join me in thanking and congratulating her personally this evening.' 

The second-in-line to the throne was expected to use the opportunity to say Britain needs strong leadership, in a nod to the current deadlock at Westminster over leaving the EU. 

After his speech Williams and Kate got behind the bar of the Empire Music Hall in Belfast, with Kate trying her hand at pulling a pint.

Drink, anyone? Kate pulls a pint of beer as she joins her husband for a visit to Empire Music Hall Belfast on Wednesday night. The evening celebrates young people in Northern Ireland and marks the end of a busy day for the couple

Kate gives her husband a helping hand as he attempts to pull a pint. 

The mother-of-three paired the powder blue gown with her signature Gianvito suede stilettos, costing £505, and a nude Mulberry clutch at Belfast's Empire Music Hall