12:35
- culture
- Royal Family
- March 23, 2018
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle visit Belfast
Harry, 33, and Markle, 36, will wed May 19 at Windsor Castle.
12:35
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/markle-harry1-gty-ml-180323_hpEmbed_2x3_384.jpg\")
Harry and Markle watched performances from young people in the Amazing the Space program before hearing them describe their \"peace pledges.\"
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle watch performances by local schools to celebrate how the Arts can unite different communities. #AmazingtheSpace. pic.twitter.com/cmUxJFc37P
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2018
In 1998, the Good Friday agreement brought an end to 30 years of conflict, known as \"the troubles,\" in Northern Ireland. A key issue of the troubles was the split between the unionists, who wished Northern Ireland to remain part of the U.K., and the Irish Republicans, who wanted Northern Ireland to leave the U.K. and join the Republic of Ireland.
Harry's family had a personal connection to the violence. Lord Mountbatten -- mentor to Harry's father, Prince Charles, uncle to Harry's grandfather, Prince Philip, and second cousin once removed to Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth -- was killed in 1979 when the Irish Republican Army (IRA) placed a bomb in his fishing boat.
Residual tensions meant security was tight for the British royal and his bride-to-be. Kensington Palace only announced the visit on Friday morning as Markle and Harry touched down at Belfast airport.
Despite this, a strong crowd of hundreds of Belfast residents and lucky tourists turned up on Victoria Street outside the Crown Liquor Saloon, one of the four locations on the couple's schedule today.
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle then visit one of Belfast's oldest buildings, The Crown Liquor Saloon and learn about its history from @NationalTrust staff. pic.twitter.com/iT94q2xTTa
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2018
Harry and Markle enjoyed a traditional Irish lunch of stew and Guinness at the pub, which dates back to Victorian times, before meeting with well-wishers braving the rain outside.
Ms. Markle receives a posy from a member of the public on Great Victoria Street in Belfast. pic.twitter.com/n6Hv67TG7C
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2018
Markle, who received a large bouquet of flowers earlier in the day, stood out in a dark green skirt and long, tan coat. Markle's cream sweater by Victoria Beckham appears to be the same sweater she wore in her engagement photos with Harry released by Kensington Palace in December.
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's first stop is the Eikon Centre, where an event is being held to mark the 2nd year of ‘Amazing the Space’, a youth-led peace-building initiative. pic.twitter.com/mXvfzar0B9
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2018
A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Dec 21, 2017 at 3:59am PST
Markle and Harry's final event was a stop at Belfast’s leading tourist attraction, the Titanic. They heard the story of the ship's conception, maiden voyage, launch and stories of the ship before its infamous collision with an iceberg in the North Atlantic.
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle walked through @TitanicBelfast’s interactive galleries which tell Titanic’s story - from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch to her maiden voyage. pic.twitter.com/RJ0FZEG5GR
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2018
They also viewed the redevelopment and regeneration of the Titanic quarter in Belfast.
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle’s last visit in Northern Ireland today was to the @TitanicBelfast, one of the world's leading tourist attractions. pic.twitter.com/2jbgQ2sAvY
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2018
Today's visit marks the couple's first official joint visit to Northern Ireland.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/markle-harry4-ap-ml-180323_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Kensington Palace announced Thursday that invitations have been issued for Harry and Markle's May 19 wedding at St. George's Palace at Windsor Castle. The couple has invited around 600 guests to the wedding and a lunchtime reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth.
The invitations follow many years of Royal tradition and have been made by @BarnardWestwood. They feature the Three-Feathered Badge of the Prince of Wales printed in gold ink. pic.twitter.com/cd7LBmRJxO
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2018
A smaller group of 200 close family and friends have been invited to an evening reception at Frogmore House, also on the grounds of Windsor Castle, hosted by Prince Charles.
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