Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle visit Northern Ireland

Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are visiting Belfast today for their first official joint visit to Northern Ireland.  Throughout the day, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will have the opportunity to meet members of the public, to learn how young people are shaping the future of Northern Ireland, and to visit some of the city's most loved sites.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's first stop will be the Eikon Centre in Lisburn, where they will attend an event to mark the second year of youth-led peace-building initiative Amazing the Space.  Funded by the Northern Ireland Executive Office and organised by Co-operation Ireland, Amazing the Space was launched by Prince Harry in September 2017 and empowers young people across Northern Ireland to become ambassadors for peace within their communities.  

The event will see young people sharing their aspirations for a peaceful future, not just at home, but on a worldwide basis, and will showcase the ground-breaking cross community and reconciliation work from young people across Northern Ireland.  The couple will watch the performances and meet young people to hear about their 'Peace Pledges'.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will then travel to one of Belfast's most historic buildings, The Crown Liquor Saloon. Owned by the National Trust, the atmospheric former Victorian gin palace is bursting with character, including period gas lighting and private snugs, featuring the original metal plates for striking matches and an antique bell system for alerting staff. Here, the couple will learn from staff and National Trust representatives about the pub's heritage.

In the afternoon, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will depart the pub after lunch and look forward to meeting members of the public gathered on Great Victoria Street.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will then travel to the Belfast campus of Northern Ireland’s next generation science park, Catalyst Inc, to meet some of Northern Ireland's brightest young entrepreneurs and innovators.

 An independent, not for profit organisation, Catalyst Inc is on a mission to build a community of innovators in Northern Ireland, providing the home, support and networks to nurture innovators and entrepreneurs to aim higher and succeed faster. In a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship these talented young people will showcase their products and inventions to the couple, talking them through the entrepreneurial journey, from the original idea through to development of the product and onto successful, growing companies.

Finally, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will visit the iconic Titanic Belfast. Voted the World's Leading Tourist Attraction at the prestigious World Travel Awards, Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to its maiden voyage and subsequent place in history.  The couple will be guided through the interactive galleries, which explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of RMS Titanic, as well as the city and people who made her. During the visit, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will also hear about how the regeneration of the Titanic Quarter has provided Belfast with an exciting new urban space.