Emheirgency services

THE Princess of Wales became Her Royal 999-ness yesterday as she hopped into a fire engine and demanded a high-speed spin.

- By Emily Ferguson Royal Editor

Kate and husband William bantered and giggled as they got a taste of life in the fast lane with the emergency services during an unannounced visit to Northern Ireland.

In the couple’s first engagement of the day at a new firefighter training college, Kate — in a forest green Alexander McQueen coat — delighted in being a fire engine passenger.

After arriving at the 50-acre Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Learning and Development College site near Cookstown, Co Tyrone, the royal couple were driven for a short distance in the emergency vehicle.

But Kate jokingly asked the driver to pick up speed, saying she wanted the vehicle to travel faster and with the sirens blaring. She even asked if former search-and-rescue pilot William could take the wheel.

Newly qualified firefighter Caoimhe McNeice, 25, said afterwards: "[The driver] got us there safely - I think he was on a limit for his speed.

Sirens

"The princess said, 'I'd love to drive at the real speed and have the sirens on'.

"She was wanting the prince to drive - but the driver got us there anyway."