Guernsey Press

Hundreds of well-wishers greet William and Kate in Ballymena

The duke and duchess are on a two-day tour of Northern Ireland.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been greeted by hundreds of cheering well-wishers in Ballymena on the second day of their Northern Ireland visit.

Several hundred people lined the streets of the Co Antrim town as William and Kate went on a walkabout.

Kate during a walkabout in Ballymena
Kate during a walkabout in Ballymena (Aaron Chown/PA)

The couple were there to learn more about the work of Cinemagic – a charity that uses film, TV and digital technologies to inspire and educate young people.

William meets the crowds
William meets the crowds (Aaron Chown/PA)

They started Thursday with a private meeting with officers and staff from the Police Service of Northern Ireland at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down.

During the Ballymena walkabout, they spoke to members of the public who had been waiting a number of hours to catch a glimpse before heading inside the centre.

Wearing a Mulberry coat, Kate chatted to officials from Mid and East Antrim Council while William spoke to DUP MP Ian Paisley, who presented him with a wooden walking stick.

The couple then talked to Emma Noble and Jack Francis, who played them a short film they recently made.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Kate and William watched Cinemagic members create film using software (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Duke and Duchess chatted to the Cinemagic members as they demonstrated the software used to help create programmes and films.

Kate was also given a lesson in special effects make-up.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Kate and William meet Cinemagic members (Aaron Chown/PA)

William and Kate played football at Belfast’s Windsor Park and took part in a canoe race in Co Fermanagh, before rounding the day off by pulling pints at a reception for young leaders at Belfast’s famous Empire music hall.

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