The Princess Royal, who is Patron of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), visited the university’s School of Nursing and Midwifery on Tuesday 16 September.
Anne has met student midwives at Queen’s University Belfast, hearing about their training and the experiences preparing them for careers in maternity care.
She was accompanied by Dr Dale Spence, Director of RCM Northern Ireland, and Hannah Leonard, the RCM’s Chief Policy Officer and Deputy Chief Midwife.
During the visit, the Princess Royal was taken around the KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre, a specialist facility where students can rehearse real-life clinical situations in a controlled and supportive environment.
The centre allows trainee midwives to build practical skills and confidence through simulated maternity scenarios, helping them prepare for situations they could encounter while caring for mothers and babies.
Midwifery student Abi Sharpe described the simulated training as an important part of her studies, explaining that it had helped her develop her clinical judgement while reinforcing the importance of compassionate and individualised care.
She also spoke of the excitement of being able to demonstrate the work to Anne, describing it as an amazing experience for the students involved.
Dr Dale Spence said it was a pleasure to welcome the Princess to Northern Ireland.
She also praised the strong sense of community among students at Queen’s.
2026-09-21 22:57:00
