PRINCE WILLIAM and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, yesterday completed a series of engagements in Belfast.
The visit, their first to Northern Ireland since the announcement of the engagement last November, was the latest in a series of UK regional trips in advance of their wedding on April 29th.
The prince’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, is to visit the Republic in May. His father, Prince Charles, visited Belfast last month and included a trip to a well-known Catholic church in the city centre, accompanied by DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson.
The couple, accompanied by Northern Secretary Owen Paterson, were greeted at George Best airport in the east of the city by former Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Peters.
She is Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast and is to the fore when members of the British royal family visit Northern Ireland.
A motorcade of seven vehicles brought the couple the short distance to Belfast City Hall where they were met by the SDLP Lord Mayor of Belfast Pat Convery.
A small number of well-wishers had gathered in the grounds of City Hall aware of a VIP visit but unsure of the identity of the visitors.
Ms Middleton wore a double-breasted Burberry trench coat while her husband-to-be was soberly suited in dark blue.
They were welcomed into the recently refurbished City Hall by the lord mayor, who introduced them to senior staff.
Shortly afterwards they went for a walkabout in the grounds to meet the crowd, which had swollen to about 200 by this time.
They were closely guarded by their security team while security officers were visible on rooftops and the police helicopter monitored the visit from overhead.
The mood was informal and relaxed as they shook hands with well-wishers before the prince joined charity workers from the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. They flipped pancakes as the camera crews followed them closely and rolling news networks carried the visit “live”.
Unlike other visits in Britain by the couple, no speeches were scheduled. They were then taken the short distance to their next engagement at YouthAction Northern Ireland.
They then visited Hillsborough Castle, a short distance from Belfast, where they had lunch with Mr Paterson before taking part in an extended and informal meet-and-greet with dozens of well-wishers who had gathered to see them.
Their final appointment was at the agricultural college at Greenmount near Antrim town.
They were welcomed by Mayor of Antrim Pam Lewis and Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim Joan Christie.
The couple judged a cattle competition and watched a tug-of-war contest before concluding their visit.