Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Londonderry

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Ulster University and City of Derry Rugby Club during a one-day visit to Northern Ireland.

It was their first trip to Londonderry.

Prince William and Catherine met with students at the university's Magee campus and met players, coaches and volunteers at the rugby club.

Earlier this year the duke and duchess video-called students from Ulster University's School of Nursing, some of who they met in person on Wednesday.

It was the first time the couple had visited Derry

The Magee campus visit was described as a relaxed informal engagement for the couple as they were given a guided tour and spoke to students.

Catherine had a chance to meet Charlotte the tarantula at the Magee campus's Kidz Farm

Prince William and Catherine met the first cohort of students at the campus's new medical training school which opened in August, and students studying on the first ever paramedic degree on offer in Northern Ireland.

Prince William handled a snake during his visit

They visited a specially-designed simulated ambulance built on campus to train the very first year group on the brand new paramedic science programme.

This course, which started earlier in September, is offered by the university to support the development of the paramedic profession in Northern Ireland and further afield.

"When their car pulled up I was shaking" says student nurse Abigail McGarvey

Abigail McGarvey was among the student nurses who met the duke and duchess on Wednesday.

"We didn't actually know beforehand that they were coming, we just knew that obviously someone very important was coming.

"When their car pulled up I was shaking, but the minute they got out and started speaking to us you could just breathe as they were just so easy to talk to," Ms McGarvey told BBC News NI

The student nurse was among those from the Magee Campus to speak with Prince William and Catherine over Zoom back in February, and said that meeting them in person felt "like everything came full circle".

Prince William and Catherine visited a specially-designed simulated ambulance

At a cultural event in the students union, they sampled local food including whiskey, wheaten bread and Tayto crisps.

The Royal couple are meeting young people and hearing how organisations are engaging across communities to promote positive relations during the visit.

Prince William and Catherine meeting students

Following their visit to Ulster University, the duke and duchess visited City of Derry Rugby Club where they met players, coaches and volunteers involved in the Sport Uniting Communities initiative.

The project is a collaboration between the Irish Football Association, Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association and Ulster Rugby.

The initiative uses sport to promote contact between individuals from different backgrounds.

(Left to right) Anabelle Hunter, Darcy Cooper, Lucy Magee, Caitlin Markey and Nevaeh Quinn spoke with the Royal couple

The Cúchulainn GAA team, which is made up of pupils from St Mary's High School, Limavady High School and Limavady Grammar School, were among those to meet the Royal couple.

The team were at City of Derry Rugby Club on Wednesday as part of the Sport Uniting Communities initiative.

Anabelle Hunter told BBC News NI that the duke and duchess spoke to them about their love of sport and the team told them how GAA has helped bring people together.

Darcy Cooper said Prince William and Catherine talked about the initiative with them and how the Covid-19 pandemic had affected their training.

"We were initially supposed to play in a tournament in London, but because of Covid it stopped that from happening and Kate was saying how she hopes that we can go over there in the future," Ms Cooper said.