Brave Kate Middleton holds a TARANTULA as she meets students in Northern Ireland after dazzling at Bond premiere

BRAVE Kate Middleton held a TARANTULA as she met students having landed in Northern Ireland for a visit to Ulster University.

It comes as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last night appeared alongside Daniel Craig on the red carpet for the premiere of the new Bond film.

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William and Kate arrived in Derry for a day-long trip meeting young people and hearing how organisations are engaging across communities, and began by touring Ulster University's Magee Campus.

The Duchess of Cambridge was even brave enough to handle a tarantula called Charlotte from Kidz Farm.

The campus was far removed from the glitz and glamour of the world premiere of the new James Bond movie No Time To Die the couple attended on Tuesday night in London.

The Cambridges are making their first visit to Derry and will be shown a specially designed simulated ambulance, the only one of its kind in the region, built on campus to train the very first-year group studying the new BSc Hons paramedic science programme in Northern Ireland.

The course, which started last week, is offered by the University to support the development of the paramedic profession in Northern Ireland and further afield.

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William and Kate will also meet in person a group of student nurses from the university they spoke to, via a video call, in February, when they heard about their experiences taking part in hospital placements during the pandemic.

At the start of the first lockdown the students from Ulster University's School of Nursing joined the frontline fight against Covid-19 working on wards or in the community.

During the call the duchess told the trainees: "Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in the country, so you couldn't have chosen a better career choice and it's needed now more than ever."

During their tour the Cambridges will meet the first cohort of medical students studying at the University's new School of Medicine, established this year in response to the nationwide shortage in the medical workforce, with the aim of training the next generation of doctors.

Away from the text books and practical lessons, William and Kate learnt how the undergraduates relax and spend their free time.

They visit the Student Union as it hosted a "Culture Shock" event - and took a trip to City of Derry Rugby Club.

William and Kate are meeting young players taking part in activities, and hearing from local clubs about how the initiative has brought communities from different backgrounds together.

Sport Uniting Communities is a collaboration between the Irish Football Association, the Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association and Ulster Rugby aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation.

The duke and duchess will have the opportunity to sample some Northern Irish food and drink from whiskey and soda bread to Tayto crisps.

Students will teach them some local expressions and to finish they will hear some of the University's talented musicians playing traditional instruments.

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