Royal Visitors Meet Former Police Officers

Better weather greeted the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as they began the second day of their NI visit today.

The royal couple have visited a centre which helps retired police officers make the transition back to civilian life.

The saw at first hand the work of the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust in Holywood.

Meanwhile, people in the North West have been telling of their experiences during two wet and windy royal engagements yesterday.

Young children from nearby primary schools waved Union flags and braved driving rain outside a new secondary school building to greet the royal couple on the first of their engagements on Wednesday.

The Queen was given a rousing welcome at the recently opened Lisneal College where the brass band struck up to mark the arrival of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh.

During their tour of the £17m complex the Queen and the Duke were shown some of its state of the art facilities, including a dental surgery and a fingerprint biometric payment system in the canteen.

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward were among the dignitaries greeting the royal couple, who also included Dr Donal Keegan, the Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry.

On the second engagement of the day they visited Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Londonderry to mark the official opening of the new South Wing.

NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey welcomed the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to the official opening of Altnagelvin Hospital's new £33million South Wing Development.

Speaking at the event the Minister said: "I am delighted to welcome Her Majesty the Queen to Altnagelvin Hospital today to officially open the new South Wing Development.

"This £33million redevelopment is part of a programme of work that will ensure that the hospital can continue to serve the west of the province for years to come," he said.

See: Royal Visitors For Derry

(BMcc)