The Princess of Wales joined Prince William on one of his homelessness-focused engagements for the first time today, with the prince proudly introducing her to guests by saying: “I am bringing her to see a one-stop-shop on homelessness today.”
The couple, who use the titles Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland, travelled to Belfast to visit two initiatives linked to William’s Homewards programme.
Homewards is designed to demonstrate how homelessness can be prevented and ultimately ended in selected areas of the UK, bringing charities, public bodies and other organisations together to tackle the crisis.
Wearing a kilt, frilled blouse and tailored blazer, Catherine arrived alongside her husband under tight security arrangements.
In line with Northern Ireland’s security protocol, details of royal visits are kept confidential until the engagements have concluded.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were welcomed by deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Belfast mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly and South Belfast MP Claire Hanna, who also leads the SDLP.
Their first stop was The Commons on Belfast’s Ormeau Road, a former church converted into a community centre by David and Jill Hines. There, they met representatives from local organisations including Flourish, which supports survivors of trafficking, and Sew-cial Circle, a handicrafts group.
Volunteer Pauline McGouran said Catherine spoke warmly and enthusiastically about the way creative activities can help people connect while supporting their mental wellbeing.
Prince William and Catherine after touring The Commons in South Belfast this afternoon
The Princess of Wales greets members of the public during her visit to South Belfast today
The Princess of Wales arrives at The Commons during her Northern Ireland visit today
William and Catherine visit The Commons, a Belfast church transformed into a community centre
Prince William and Catherine following their tour of The Commons in South Belfast
The Princess of Wales speaks with members of the public during her South Belfast visit
The Princess of Wales during her visit to The Commons in South Belfast this afternoon
The Prince of Wales greets members of the public during the royal visit to South Belfast
The Prince and Princess of Wales visit The Commons in South Belfast today
The Princess of Wales chats with members of the public during her Belfast engagement
“She was absolutely lovely—so charming and genuinely interested. We all agreed that none of us could have carried off a skirt like that,” McGouran said afterwards.
A central theme of the visit was the importance of creating job opportunities for young people, particularly those leaving care, to help prevent them from becoming trapped in homelessness later in life.
While the rate of care leavers ending up homeless is one in three in the UK, this rises to one in two leaving care in Northern Ireland within ten years.
The couple spoke to employers, frontline organisations and young people involved in the Homewards’ New Employment Opportunities Network (Neon), a cross-sector organisation which was launched in Northern Ireland in 2025 and has already seen seven local employers recruited 21 young people through the network and is being rolled out nationwide.
William peppered them with questions, including: ‘Has it made a real difference do you think being so closely connected to community?’
He added: ‘We can all be little islands and it’s sometimes we need something like this to bring us together to work on an issue we all care so much about.
EXPLORE MORE: Always Tired? Even One Daily Coffee Could Be to Blame
‘I think employers want to help out but sometimes they don’t know how to help.‘
A senior royal aide said the princess has been keen for some time to see the work of Homewards as it tied in with her own early years work to better the lives of under-fives.
‘The issue of social and emotional development in young children directly links to issues such as homelessness so she has been really keen to come and see its work and take this back to her own Centre for Early Childhood,’ they said.
Before they left the couple were given flowers and a gift bag of homemade goodies including wheaten bread, gin and knitted dishcloths by Seth Haines, 18, and his sister Mia, 23.
Their father David said: ‘I’ll be honest with you, I can take or leave royalty but these two were really impressive. They were very thoughtful and natural and interested in what we have achieved here. And the prince is showing real leadership in the field of community cohesion. Everyone was blown away.‘
The Princess of Wales arrives at The Commons during a visit to Northern Ireland today
William and Catherine visit The Commons, a project in Belfast that is transforming a church
The Prince of Wales speaks to Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (right) this afternoon
The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to The Commons in South Belfast today
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for a visit to The Commons in South Belfast today
The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to The Commons in South Belfast today
The Princess of Wales arrives at The Commons during a visit to Northern Ireland today
Prince William and Catherine arrive in Belfast today amid a strict security blackout
The Princess of Wales arrives at The Commons during a visit to Northern Ireland today
Outside a large crowd had gathered after word quickly spread of their arrival, cheering as the couple appeared outside the former church.
They decided to embark on a walkabout, shaking hands, posing for selfies and cooing over babies.
William and Catherine shook hands with the crowd, with the prince making a FaceTime call to the mother of one of those waiting.
William also greeted a fellow Aston Villa fan, telling him he was ‘a bit nervous, but excited’ about the team’s prospects for the rest of this season.
The princess spoke at length to Deborah Ramsaropp, a former military wife who wanted to speak to her about the lack of support for army families.
She said: ‘She was very well aware of the issues we face and was very sympathetic.’
Catherine also gently stoked the head of a seven-month-old baby. ‘They are wrapping you up warm,’ she smiled.
She beamed as one lady told her: ‘Thank you for coming to Northern Ireland.’
Catherine chatted with a group of schoolchildren about her own youngsters too, telling them how Prince George had just started a new school.
As she admitted another little boy’s squishy toy, he asked her what her children were called. ‘Thank you for asking,’ Catherine said. ‘I have George and Charlotte and the little one is called Louis.’
