The Duchess of Edinburgh completed her first solo visit to Northern Ireland since 2018 on Tuesday. She began the day at a specialist autism centre in Randalstown, County Antrim.

The duchess attended a Women in Leadership graduation event at Randalstown Library. The programme, run by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council with Impact Network NI and Utopian Learning, began in September 2024 to build skills among local women. It forms part of council legacy projects honouring Queen Elizabeth II. Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, welcomed the duchess and expressed pride in the participants' achievements.

Accompanied by Deputy-Lieutenant of County Antrim Jackie Stewart, the duchess met Libraries NI board chairperson Bonnie Anley, chief executive Dr Jim O’Hagan and members of the Randalstown Library reading group. Dr O’Hagan noted the lively discussion highlighted libraries' role in connecting communities through reading.

She also spoke with volunteers from Tidy Randalstown, who maintain the town.

Later, the duchess went to Bloomfield Walkway Community Centre in east Belfast. Lord Mayor Tracy Young and MP Gavin Robinson greeted her there. She toured the centre and met youth workers, volunteers, young people, guide dogs and their assisted users.