Prince Charles ended a two-day visit to Northern Ireland yesterday following a day of engagements outside Belfast and a garden party at Hillsborough Castle.
The prince's first public visit was to Peterson's spade mill, Ireland's sole surviving water-driven mill at Templepatrick, Co Antrim, where spades are made.
He was shown some of the 171 varieties of spade made, witnessed a craftsman putting the final touches to a finished product and was presented with a Co Antrim spade.
The prince was then flown to Larne, Co Antrim, where the official opening of a new gas-powered, electricity-generating plant took place.
He was welcomed at the Ballylumford site by the area's Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Roy Beggs, and the Enterprise Minister, Mr Ian Pearson, among others.
Prince Charles was taken on a short tour of the plant, owned by Premier Power, and met electricity workers.
At a short ceremony, the prince officially switched on the power station.
The final engagements were closely associated with the prince's interest in the environment and organic farming.
He flew to Culmore House organic farm in Kilrea, on the banks of the River Bann.
The 100-acre farm, which has been worked by the Laughlin family since the 1920s, was converted to organic production in 1999.
Among those welcoming him was the North Antrim MP, the Rev Ian Paisley.
The royal visitor was shown the dairy herd and the modern milking parlour. He had discussions with Mr David Laughlin about organic farm management. He stayed at the farm for a sandwich lunch.
The final engagement was at Hillsborough, Co Down, where the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, hosted a garden party at the castle.
The theme of the party, which was attended in warm sunshine by some 2,500 invited guests, was heritage, conservation and the environment.
The prince met a number of groups associated with the conservation sector, and became the first signatory of the visitors' book at the newly-restored Hillsborough Castle Gallery.