Prince William and his fiancée, Kate Middleton, are in Belfast for a series of engagements today.
The visit, their first to Northern Ireland since the announcement of the engagement last November, is the latest in a series of UK regional trips in advance of their wedding on April 29th.
The prince's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth is expected 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 Belfast City 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 short-length taupe trench coat, which was double-breasted, and finished with a ruffle. The outfit was completed with black opaque tights and black stiletto shoes. 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, led by Peter McNaney, chief executive of the city council, before inviting them to his parlour for tea.
The couple emerged about 20 minutes leader for a walkabout in the grounds and to meet the crowd which had swollen to around 200. Prince William and Ms Middleton were guarded by their close security team, while security officers were visible on a few rooftops, and the police helicopter monitored the visit overhead.
The mood was informal and relaxed as they shook hands with the well-wishers before the prince joined charity workers from the NI Cancer Fund for Children. The prince flipped pancakes as the posse of 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. The couple were then taken the short distance to their next engagement at YouthAction Northern Ireland. The organisation provides volunteering opportunities in a range of disciplines.
Among those who met the couple were First Minister Peter Robinson; former Ulster Unionist Assembly member Ian Adamson, sheriff for the County Borough of Belfast; SDLP South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell, Ulster Unionist Stormont minister Danny Kennedy; and Shane O'Neill, president of YouthAction, Northern Ireland.
The couple are expected to fulfil two other engagements later today before returning to London.