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The Princess of Wales has been challenged by a woman who suggested she was not in her own country while on a royal visit to Belfast. The exchange unfolded when Kate and William were on a walkabout in north Belfast. Kate chatted to well-wishers and received a bouquet of flowers, moving along the crowd until she reached a woman.

While shaking hands with the princess, the woman said: “Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country.”

The woman, who appeared to be videoing the exchange on a mobile phone, added: “Ireland belongs to the Irish.”

William and Kate are carrying out a number of engagements with cross-community organisations providing support to people from all backgrounds.

They began with a visit to suicide prevention charity PIPS in north Belfast.

Kate Middleton confronted by woman in Northern Ireland

Lord mayor Tina Black and Sinn Fein MP for the constituency John Finucane were among those who welcomed the royal couple on arrival. Inside, Elyse Quinn, 12, the daughter of the charity’s executive director Renee Quinn, presented the princess with a bouquet of flowers.

PIPS was founded in 2003 following the loss of 14 young people to suicide in Belfast over a short period of time the previous year.

Compelled to act, stakeholders from across the city came together to try to address the issue. During their visit, William and Kate spoke with staff about their work helping people at risk of suicide and self-harm.

During the visit, William and Kate spoke with staff about their work helping people at risk of suicide and self-harm.

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The charity also arranged for them to take part in an art therapy session, painting pumpkins, with some vulnerable children who have been supported by PIPS.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisation has seen a significant rise in those reaching out for help.

That includes an increase of more than 500 percent among young people.

At the end of the visit, the prince and princess joined a group of volunteer counsellors in packing up the charity’s Little Boxes of Hope.

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The support packages are given to children following their time with PIPS to assist their ongoing recovery and ensure that their parents and guardians feel better equipped to cope.

After the visit to PIPS, the couple travelled into Belfast city centre to view Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market where they took part in a spirited cocktail making race.

William was declared the winner before the couple heard more about the Trademarket enterprise which transformed a previously vacant site, aiming to showcase new businesses while also increasing footfall in a less visited area.

They also met with representatives from Kainos, a Belfast-based software company which provided the site for the market at a peppercorn rent.

The final visit of the day was to the town of Carrickfergus in Co Antrim where the royal couple were greeted by cheering crowds who lined the streets as they arrived to visit youth charity Carrick Connect. It offers support services to young people experiencing social or emotional difficulties.

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