THE Prince of Wales sailed into Belfast yesterday on the royal yacht Britannia for the biggest royal visit to Northern Ireland in nearly 20 years. Unlike previous visits, the prince is staying for three days.
While unionist politicians were delighted with the visit, there was strong criticism from Sinn Fein, Republican Sinn Fein and the INLA's political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist Party.
Security was tight as Prince Charles carried out engagements in Belfast and Newtownards, Co Down. It is believed he will go to Derry and Co Tyrone today.
Thousands of people turned out to see the prince who hosted a gala reception on Britannia for the Northern Ireland Exporter of the Year Awards last night.
The royal yacht sailed into Belfast Lough at 7.15 a.m., accompanied by HMS Glasgow. Britannia has not been in the North since Queen Elizabeth's silver jubilee in 1977. It is understood this will be the ship's last visit to the North as it is due to be decommissioned next year.
The prince had breakfast on board the ship. When he came ashore, he was greeted by the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew. The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Annesley, and the British Army GoC, Gen Sir Rupert Smith, were also present.
The prince's first engagement was at Belfast City Hospital where he opened the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service's new £7 million headquarters. He was welcomed by Belfast's Lord Mayor, Councillor Ian Adamson.
He then visited Mountcollyer Youth Club, in north Belfast where he met members of a cross Border youth group. Several young people from Cork had travelled up for the visit.
The prince's next engagement was in Newtownards where he opened the Industrial Therapy Organisation's centre in the town. The ITO is the North's leading mental health voluntary organisation.
Back in Belfast, the prince visited the RUC headquarters at Knock where he met senior officers. He then hosted the gala reception on the Britannia for the Northern Ireland export awards last night. There were about 600 guests, mainly from the business world.
The Exporter of the Year was Getty Connections, of Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.
Republican politicians did not welcome the prince's visit. The Sinn Fein councillor, Mr Alex Maskey, said. "Visits of British royalty, particularly those accompanied by warships, only reinforce the view of many that the British occupation of the six counties is an outdated hangover from the days of empire."
The Republican Sinn Fein president, Mr Ruairi O Bradaigh, said British royal visits to the North were becoming increasingly frequent. "Five visits in the past three months is a means of underlining Britain's intention to retain possession of these six Irish counties."
Mr Kevin McQuillian, of the Irish Republican Socialist Party the INLA's political wing, said the visits were a "patently cynical attempt by the British government to provide a sense of security for the unionist population here".
They reinforced divisions between working class Catholics and Protestants in the North "which were fostered by Britain in the first place".