Modern touch of Harry and Meghan resonates so well with young people both in Northern Ireland and globally

THERE is a refreshing informality about Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle.

The prince, sufficiently down the pecking order for the throne, can dismiss the stuffiness beloved of royal courtiers when meeting the public or members of the charities he supports. Meghan, meanwhile, brings a touch of the red carpet rather than the royal household to her walkabouts.

She is not another Diana, nor is Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, but she presents a modern face of royalty more in keeping with the times.

That quality was evident in spades from both on their visit to Northern Ireland yesterday which began with the couple attending a cross-community peace initiative near Lisburn and delighting hundreds of young people by sitting among them rather than on some formal dias.

It was also evident from the crowds which thronged the pavements in central Belfast the Northern Ireland people have taken the couple to their hearts. It was their first visit together to the province and many people simply wanted to get as close as possible to the couple.

It may be cliched but they entered into the spirit of their visit to the iconic Crown Bar by tucking into some stew. It is seldom such a humble dish is on royal visitors’ menus.

While their wedding is not until May 19, the couple couldn’t resist playing a little to the crowd when spotting a range of products for newborns at an innovation hub in the docklands and quipping that they may need the whole lot at some point.

Cue feverish speculation that they intend to start a family sooner rather than later.

There is something about Harry that endears him to the public and his fiancee certainly knows how to play the crowds equally well.

No doubt their wedding will be avidly watched by many people here and the hope is that the couple will return again to these shores shortly after becoming husband and wife.

They can be assured of a warm welcome.