PICTURES - Duchess of Edinburgh celebrates 40 years of Guide Dogs for the Blind in Northern Ireland

Sophie paid her first solo visit to the region since 2018 on Tuesday.

During her one-day trip, the duchess visited a new specialist autism centre in Randalstown, Co Antrim before attending a Women in Leadership event at the town’s library.

She then travelled to east Belfast where she was welcomed to Bloomfield Walkway Community Centre by a delegation which included Lord Mayor Tracy Young and MP Gavin Robinson.

During a tour of the facility, the duchess met with youth workers, volunteers and young people, as well as a number of guide dogs and those they assist.

Sophie took a moment to pet puppy in training Luna as she heard about her progress towards becoming a companion through the charity of which she is a patron.

She laughed as the six-month-old pup excitedly greeted her, vigorously wagging her tail and briefly jumping up.

She told her, “you’re not meant to jump up”, before hearing her new friend is due to go into advanced training in May, but is “doing really well”.

Meanwhile, graduates of the Women in Leadership Programme were thrilled to receive a surprise visit

today from Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, at their Graduation Ceremony in

Randalstown Library.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, a strong advocate of Women in Leadership, heard from the

women who took part in the Leadership Programme established by Antrim and

Newtownabbey Borough Council in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.