Belfast Visit As Duke Jets In

The Duke of Edinburgh has arrived in Northern Ireland and has already met this year's Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award recipients at a presentation ceremony in Hillsborough Castle.

On the second engagement of his one-day visit he was a special guest at the Belfast Activity Centre (BAC) at Barnetts Demesne, Belfast.

He was able to see at first hand the work of the BAC - which was established in 1988 to reach out to all communities in Belfast - with funding that was partly raised by Price Edward, the Earl of Wessex.

It is one of a number of special Duke of Edinburgh Projects around the United Kingdom.

Arriving at the Boathouse, the Duke was greeted by The Lord-Lieutenant of Co Antrim, Joan Christie and went on to meet Stephen Dickson, Director, BAC, Victoria Fong and Sheena Mann both GAP students and Gold Award Participants.

HRH also met a number of funders, architects and representatives of organisations involved in the boathouse project.

Earlier today, the Duke was greeted at Hillsborough by David Lindsay, the Lord-Lieutenant of Co Down.

The Duke then went on to meet David Corbett, Sheriff for Co Down and Kate Thompson, the Director of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Northern Ireland, who accompanied the royal guest during the engagement.

Around 100 young people were presented with Gold Awards, marking their successful completion of a voluntary process of personal development aimed at helping them reach their full potential.

All of the recipients undertook activities that involved working to help others in the community, improving personal physical fitness, developing existing skills or trying something new, planning and completing an adventurous journey, and staying and working away from home as part of a team.

Joining today's celebration and assisting with the formal presentation of the awards were Eddie Irvine, Northern Ireland-born former Formula 1 Racing Driver and Alan Simpson, BBC radio presenter.

During the engagement His Royal Highness had the opportunity to meet recipients and family members, along with volunteers and leaders.

HRH also met some of the Northern Ireland sponsors and supporters of the programme that helps maintain its position as the UK's leading youth charity.

Students from Victoria College in Belfast under the direction of Music Teacher, Audrey Gillian, provided a musical accompaniment during the engagement.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award began in 1956 and now with the widest reach of any UK youth charity has around 275,000 young people undertaking Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards each year.

His Royal Highness last visited Northern Ireland in May 2009 when he accompanied The Queen during a three-day visit.

(BMcC/GK)