Photos: Duchess Kate feeds a lamb and spends time in Northern Ireland before jetting to Scotland

<a href=/tags/0/kate-middleton><strong>Duchess Kate</a></strong> made a surprise visit to Northern Ireland on Feb. 12! The Duchess of Cambridge was in Newtonards, County Down, where she stepped out to The Ark Open Farm. <p>While there, Kate met with children, parents and grandparents and learned about their needs and challenges in raising little ones ages five and under. The trip was to help plug her "5 questions on the under 5's" survey, which launched last month and aims to inform the Duchess of Cambridge's work on early years. <p>Kate had lots of fun at the farm! She and the kids got to play with animals, including a lamb, a hedgehog, snake and more! <p><strong>Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you're on desktop) to see the best photos from her day!</strong> <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kate looked ready for the farm as she arrived, wearing her beloved <strong>Penelope Chilvers</strong> boots, <strong>Troy of London</strong> khaki jacket and black skinny jeans.<p>Chris Jackson/Getty Images
She was also wearing some gorgeous gold, leaf-shaped earrings! <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kate was friendly with the kids right away, as she always is. The mom of three was very pleased to meet the youngsters! <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The duchess accompanied the kids on a special trip to meet many of the farm's animals, including this alpaca. <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
She also helped a little feed this adorable lamb... <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
... got a good look at this guinea pig... <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
... was brave enough to touch a snake... <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
... helped kids get comfortable with another reptile... <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
... and also met this (very shy) hedgehog. <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The Ark Farm even features an ark with models of animals from the Biblical story of Noah's Ark in Genesis. <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kate got to unveil a plaque marking her visit. <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
She also took the time to talk to staff, parents and grandparents about their challenges and needs raising young kids. And she did it in the best way possible – over tea! <p>Photo: &copy; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kate's day wasn't done after that! From there, she headed to Aberdeen, Scotland, nearly 500 kilometres away! She'd had a slight outfit change on the way, sporting a baby blue blazer instead of her khaki jacket and black boots instead of the Penelope Chilvers ones. <p>Photo: &copy; Paul Campbell/Getty Images
While in Aberdeen, she visited the Social Bite cafe and spoke to parents about their needs raising their children, too. <p>Photo: &copy; Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
The cafe put the Countess of Strathearn, she's known in Scotland, hard to work! She helped make wraps and did plenty of other food prep while there. <p>Photo: &copy; Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
She also posed for a photo with staff and parents, too! <p>Photo: &copy; Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
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