The SDLP Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, welcomed the Prince of Wales to Armagh yesterday as a gesture of respect for all traditions in the North.
Prince Charles, who is on a two-day visit to the North, also met the leaders of the four main churches. He was welcomed to the city by Mr Mallon, the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and his wife Daphne.
"I am meeting Prince Charles because I want to show respect for all traditions," Mr Mallon said. "The real significance of the visit is that relations between Britain and Ireland are being put on a proper new footing."
He said he hoped this would be reinforced soon by a visit to Dublin by Queen Elizabeth. Several hundred people gathered to cheer the Prince of Wales as he officially opened the Market Place Theatre amid tight security. It was his first trip to Armagh in six years.
Inside the theatre, he was entertained by two local pop bands, Cadenza and Roo Nation.
Later, Prince Charles met the leaders of the four main churches in the North: the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames; the Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Trevor Morrow; the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev Kenneth Todd, and the Catholic auxiliary Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Gerard Clifford, who was representing Archbishop Sean Brady.
They accompanied him on a private tour of St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral. The Prince of Wales then travelled to Enniskillen College of Agriculture, Co Fermanagh, where he met the area's Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Ken Maginnis, and the North's Agriculture Minister, Ms Brid Rodgers of the SDLP.
He toured the college, chatting to students and lecturers and inspecting cattle. He watched a race up a hill by five college racing club jockeys on thoroughbred horses. Later, he met local meat and dairy producers, organic farmers, tourism leaders, and representatives of major retailers with links to the college.
The prince was presented with Belleek china before leaving. This afternoon, he will be guest of honour at a garden party at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, where he will meet victims of the Troubles and their families. Sinn Fein is boycotting the event.
A visit to Derry by Prince Charles, who is colonel-in-chief of the Parachute Regiment, was cancelled because of nationalist sensitivities. The regiment shot dead 14 unarmed civilians in the city on Bloody Sunday in 1972 and the Saville Inquiry into the incident is sitting in the Guildhall.
Sinn Fein yesterday said the visit would have shown "contempt and disregard for the people of Derry". However, the DUP said unionist sensitivities were routinely ignored in the North.