The Duchess of Edinburgh made her first solo trip to Northern Ireland in eight years on Tuesday, marking the occasion by inaugurating a new specialist autism facility in County Antrim.
Sophie officially opened the National Autistic Society NI centre in Randalstown, where she spent time with families who shared how the dedicated space would benefit their loved ones.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the royal visit, noting that the duchess, in her capacity as patron, “heard from families about the support this special space will provide.”
During her single-day engagement, Sophie encountered 15-year-old autism advocate Angel Dusauzay, who has penned three books supporting neurodivergent children.
Duchess of Edinburgh greeted by Union Jacks during first solo Northern Ireland visit in eight years
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Following her autism centre visit, the duchess attended a graduation ceremony for participants in a Women in Leadership Programme at Randalstown Library.
The initiative, established by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, launched in September 2024 in partnership with Impact Network NI and Utopian Learning.
Mayor Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick described welcoming Sophie as “an honour,” adding: “I am immensely proud of this programme and of every woman who has completed it.
“Their success represents progress, possibility, and a strong future for leadership across our Borough.”
The Duchess of Edinburgh during a visit to the Bloomfield Walkways Community Centre in Belfast
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The duchess was accompanied by Deputy-Lieutenant of County Antrim Jackie Stewart MBE.
Sophie then travelled to east Belfast, where she joined celebrations marking four decades of Guide Dogs for the Blind in Northern Ireland at Bloomfield Walkway Community Centre.
Lord Mayor Tracy Young and MP Gavin Robinson were among the welcoming delegation as the duchess toured the facility, meeting youth workers, volunteers and families whose lives have been transformed by the charity’s assistance dogs.
A highlight of the visit came when Sophie presented Judith Martin with a certificate recognising her as the organisation’s 1,000th volunteer in Northern Ireland.
The Duchess of Edinburgh smiled as she greeted the royal fans
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The Duchess of Edinburgh meets Guide Dogs puppy in training Luna
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The duchess also met Luna, a six-month-old puppy currently undergoing training to become a future guide dog.
Luna made quite an impression on the royal visitor, enthusiastically wagging her tail and briefly jumping up to greet Sophie, who laughed at the puppy’s exuberance.
“You’re not meant to jump up,” the duchess told the young dog, before learning that Luna is progressing well and scheduled to begin advanced training in May.
Sophie has served as patron of Guide Dogs since 2021, taking over a role previously held by Princess Alexandra for nearly seven decades from 1954.
The duchess spent time speaking with volunteers about the commitment required to raise and train assistance dogs, demonstrating her characteristic warmth during engagements.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.gbnews.com ’
