Royal visit: Charles pays tribute to NI cross-community efforts

The Prince of Wales paid tribute to everyone involved in cross-community work in Northern Ireland during a visit to Belfast on Tuesday.

The prince and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Belfast City Hall before speaking about youth services at the Education Authority's headquarters.

He said he was always "profoundly moved" by efforts to deal with NI's past and to bring about reconciliation.

It is the royal couple's first visit in Northern Ireland's centenary year.

The prince and duchess began the day by touring Belfast City Hall where they discussed the events of 100 years ago with historians.

The prince's great-grandfather, King George V, officially opened Northern Ireland's first parliament when it met at the city hall on 22 June 1921.

Prince Charles and Camilla followed in his footsteps on Tuesday.

Among the historians they met was Prof Paul Bew, who is chair of the official historical advisory panel set up to advise the government on the centenary.

After leaving Belfast City Hall, the royal couple travelled to the Education Authority's headquarters in the Cathedral Quarter.

There, Prince Charles met youth workers and young people who spoke about the impact of youth services.

During the engagement, he said: "We must never underestimate the risk, and the cost, of holding to peaceful ways, and how much determination and, actually, courage is necessary.

"When I visit this part of the world, I never cease to be profoundly moved by the work that is being done to heal the pain of the past, to bring understanding and reconciliation in the present and to build hope for the future."

The couple then travelled in different directions, with the prince heading to the east of the city to the Belfast shipyard, Harland and Wolff, where the Titanic was built more than a century ago.

The royal guest unveiled a plaque which commemorated the 160th anniversary of the founding of the shipyard and met workers, some of whom were from families who have worked at the site for generations.

He was also presented with a photo of his own father, the late Prince Philip, visiting the same site in 1977.

Prince Charles later made his way to Slieve Gullion Forest Park, a visitor attraction in County Armagh.

There he met schoolchildren and listened to some Irish traditional tunes as young musicians staged an open-air performance.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cornwall travelled to the County Down village of Hillsborough where she visited the workshop of the renowned silversmith, Cara Murphy.

Her work features in a number of art collections, including British and Irish galleries and museums, and one of her pieces is also in Downing Street.

Earlier this year, Ms Murphy was commissioned to create the trophy for the 2021 Grand National horse race.

After a workshop demonstration from her host, the duchess tried her hand at the traditional craft of silversmithing.

Prince Charles later met First Minister Arlene Foster at Hillsborough Castle - the Queen's official residence in Northern Ireland.

"HRH has always been a tremendous supporter of building a shared and united community in Northern Ireland," said Mrs Foster in a tweet.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she was unable to meet Prince Charles "on this occasion".

"I met Prince Charles on his last visit to the north last September and recently expressed our condolences to him and his family on the death of his father," she added.

"On this occasion a meeting was not possible.

"The British Royals have made a very positive contribution to the development of peace and reconciliation."

It is the royal couple's 18th visit to Northern Ireland and their first since September last year when they visited the Ulster Museum and met medical staff involved in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before the pandemic, they had been frequent visitors to the Republic of Ireland.

It is 10 years since the Queen made her first visit to Dublin.

The Queen was invited to visit by the then Irish President Mary McAleese.

Previous to that, King George V was the last reigning monarch to visit Dublin, in 1911, when it was still part of the United Kingdom.