08/03/2011

Prince William And Kate At Hillsborough

Prince William's first royal visit to the North was in full swing this afternoon as part of the run-up to the couple's preparations for the royal wedding on 29 April.

Along with his bride-to-be, Kate Middleton, the pair arrived in Northern Ireland for a one-day visit earlier this morning.

Prince William arrived at his grandmother's official NI residence this afternoon when he visited Hillsborough Castle on the third engagement of today's visit.

There, they had a private meeting with Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and His Royal Highness and Miss Middleton also had the opportunity to enjoy a private lunch at the Co Down castle that is both the base for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the official residence of Her Majesty The Queen and members of the Royal Family when they visit Northern Ireland.

The royal visitors then had some time to stroll in the ornate grounds and added their names to the historical Hillsborough Castle Visitors' book as they departed for their next engagement.

Earlier, they went on to visit the headquarters of Youth Action NI in Belfast - an organisation that offers volunteering opportunities, performing arts, apprenticeships, mentoring, accredited training and leadership opportunities to young people living in disadvantaged areas.

There, they watched a performance by Youth Action's Rainbow Factory School of Performing Arts and met the young actors.

Before that, at 10.30am, the couple initially arrived at Belfast City Hall to be met by Lord Mayor Pat Convery and Dame Mary Peters, in her role as the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast in the first in a series of engagements planned for them.

In the grounds of City Hall, the royal couple also met representatives from the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children who were hosting a Shrove Tuesday fund-raising event to benefit local children and their families.

Smiling Kate Middleton even tossed a pancake for Shrove Tuesday as onlookers cheered and wished her well for her wedding day next month.

Miss Middleton, 29, was handed a frying pan by Prince William after he had tossed some pancakes himself and told to "have a go" in front of children fundraising on Shrove Tuesday.

(BMcC/GK)

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