Harry and bride-to-be getabite... and a fright

Royals: Day of surprises in Belfast

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry embraced the culture of Northern Ireland during a visit to one of Belfast’s most famous buildings – by sitting down to a traditional Irish pub lunch.

The American actress and her fiance popped into the Crown Liquor Saloon – a major tourist attraction in the city.

Earlier, they received a rapturous welcome from thousands of young people when they visited the former Maze paramilitary prison where teenagers from both sides of the border had gathered for a peace-building event.

Prince Harry praised the youth-led initiative called Amazing the Space, and said: “Over the years religion has divided us but we’re all the same underneath.”

Meanwhile Ms Markle revealed that they had been anticipating their trip to the well-known Victorian gin palace, which is owned by the National Trust and famed for its ornate decorations. Harry joked with Heather McLachlan, the trust’s director for Northern Ireland, asking: “Are you open? We want food.”

His fiancee added: “We saw the menu last week, and said ‘We’ll have this’.”

The couple marvelled at the pub, which features period gas lighting, a red marble-topped bar, mosaic tiled floor and snugs – ornately carved wooden booths with stained glass where Victorian drinkers could sit in private. Admiring the ceiling, Harry said: “It’s amazing, it really is.”

The antique bell system still exists and may have been used by the couple to order their lunch of Irish stew in a snug.

Ms Markle looked stylish in a cream coat by Mackage, a dark green dress by Greta Constantine, a cream top by Victoria Beckham, tobacco heels by Jimmy Choo teamed with a tan-coloured Charlotte Elizabeth bag.

The couple also visited Titanic Belfast – then did a double take when faced with prosthetic limbs used for film sets made by the Titanic FX company at Catalyst Inc science park.

“We saw the menu last week, and said ‘We’ll have this”