Prince Harry makes first official NI visit

Q Radio news

Prince Harry has made his first official visit to Northern Ireland. 

His Royal Highness arrived this morning to open a new £5 million Northern Ireland Ambulance Service centre in Ballymena. 

He around an hour meeting paramedics, staff and dignitaries before moving to his next engagement. 

It's his first official solo trip to Northern Ireland in his royal duties.

A quick lesson in resuscitation for the Prince by CSO team pic.twitter.com/2N84rGan4B

— NIAS (@NIAS999) September 7, 2017

The new ambulance centre is also being used as the northern area headquarter, replacing the old facility. 

It'll hold 43 staff, five emergency vehicles and three non-emergency patient care vehicles.

NIAS say around 15,000 emergency calls were made in the area last year, with a significant number of those deemed to be the most serious cases.

IMAGE: Prince Harry jokes with Ivan Kenny by spinning him around at Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station. 

The 32-year-old will meet members of the leading peace-building charity on the island of Ireland.

Co-operation Ireland has worked for almost 40 years to build a shared and cohesive society within Northern Ireland and across the Irish border.

In 2012 it hosted a historic and highly symbolic handshake between late Sinn Fein deputy first minister and life-long republican Martin McGuinness and the Queen.

The organisation's aim is to promote dialogue and practical collaboration within Northern Ireland and with the Republic of Ireland.

IMAGE: Prince Harry meets a range of range of youth organisations at The MAC in Belfast

The Prince of Wales has made a series of visits to both parts of the island in an effort to promote reconciliation.

Earlier this year he paid tribute to those who fought for Irish freedom in the 1916 Rising, laying a wreath at a memorial to those who died.

Mr McGuinness's former partner in government and ex-Stormont first minister Peter Robinson sits on the board of Co-operation Ireland.

Harry will meet a range of youth organisations from across Northern Ireland during the event at an arts centre in the town.

He will hear about a peace-building initiative which empowers young people across Northern Ireland to become ambassadors for peace within their communities, as well as details of Northern Ireland's national citizenship service.

He'll end his visit with a garden party at the Queen's official residence in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle.

IMAGE: Prince Harry speaks to Hannah Joy Graham (3), who is in the crowd outside during his visit to Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station