Prince Edward helps pack Christmas gifts during NI visit

The campaign which aims to ensure that children who are living in poverty wake up to presents on Christmas Day

The Duke of Edinburgh took part in packing gifts for children who need it most on Thursday morning at Cash for Kids NI's "Mission Christmas" headquarters.

Prince Edwards spoke to staff and volunteers as well as meeting the beneficiaries and touring the facility.

The campaign aims to ensure that children who are living in poverty wake up to presents on Christmas Day.

Cash for Kids NI works with with schools, social services, registered children's charities and community groups to identify where the gifts are needed most.

'Absolute pleasure to have royalty'

Prince Edward helped to pack gifts for children who need it most

Patrick Butler, a volunteer, stressed the importance of the campaign, he said: "I have two young kids and I couldn't think of anything worse than my kids waking up on Christmas morning without a present."

Mr Butler said he was "absolutely shocked" when he found out that the duke was paying a visit.

"When I pulled up this morning, I seen the police and I thought I was in the wrong place, and then I found out we were going to have a very special visitor... an absolute pleasure to have royalty visit us this morning," he said.

Lauren Baxter, Cash for Kids NI Regional Manager, said Prince Edward was "very engaged" when he visited.

"I think he was shocked by the scale of it and the fact that the numbers we were sharing today were just in Northern Ireland," she said.

"We're hoping to help somewhere in the region of 18,000 children this Christmas," she added.

Supporters are asked to buy an extra gift when shopping to give to a child who is at risk of waking up to nothing on Christmas morning.

In 2023, over £1.3m was raised by the campaign which supported over 20,000 children.