Prince Harry and his fiancée, Suits star Meghan Markle, made their first joint trip to Northern Ireland in March. The visit was a single day’s excursion, part of a full tour of the U.K. meant to introduce the incoming member of the royal family.
Stopping first in Lisburn, the pair attended a presentation by students swearing to work for peace in Northern Ireland. Sponsored by Co-operation Ireland in support of its “Amazing the Space” initiative, the event hosted 2,500 from both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Markle, of Irish descent on her father’s side, made a memorable impression on the students. “She was so humble and down to earth, so easy to talk to,” commented 17-year-old Amber Hamilton. “She was really interested in the peace pledges we wrote.”
Prince Harry has a special attachment to the program, having launched this year’s activities himself last autumn. The presentation was held at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, on the grounds of the famed Maze prison facility, where I.R.A. prisoners were held during the Troubles.
The pair met Northern Ireland’s most promising entrepreneurs at Catalyst, Inc., a Belfast-based, innovation-geared campus. Their last stop was at Titanic Belfast, a museum providing an in-depth view of the construction of the iconic ship (which was built in Belfast) and its traumatic voyage. ♦
Very nice. We love Meghan. So cool to have an American Royal.