Kate Middleton and Prince William Brave the Rain to Meet Locals During Surprise Visit to Northern Ireland.
The Prince and Princess of Wales spoke openly with young people after arriving in Belfast on Friday, Oct. 9.
Kate Middleton and Prince William stepped out together for a surprise outing in Northern Ireland.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 44, were photographed braving the rain during the unannounced visit to Belfast on Friday, Oct. 9, with Kate holding an umbrella to shield herself from the drizzle. While Prince William opted for his usual ensemble, pairing a suit with a blue tie, Princess Kate made a statement in a plaid midi skirt by Emilia Wickstead paired with a ruffled white blouse and navy coat.
The couple met with young people and the organizations working to create pathways to employment, stability and opportunities for those at risk of homelessness. They saw the Commons, a former church on Belfast’s Ormeau Road, transformed into a community centre focused on creativity, care, connection and belonging. Community activities are offered, including shared meals and cultural events.
Outside, as the sun began to shine, the royal couple stopped to greet well-wishers, with Prince William meeting a fellow Aston Villa fan and had a video call with a woman who couldn’t be there in person, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
Their visit highlighted a successful employment pilot first launched in Northern Ireland by Homewards — a locally led program founded by Prince William and the Royal Foundation in June 2023.
The pilot supported young people into work, helped them build confidence and sustained their new roles. The approach is set to be brought to four further Homewards locations with commitments from major national U.K. companies.
According to Kensington Palace, the Prince and Princess of Wales heard how sustainable employment, combined with strong relationships and ongoing support, can help young people build confidence, stability, independence and a sense of purpose.
They also learned about the vital role employers, public services and community organizations play in creating the conditions for people to thrive through meaningful connections, a sense of belonging and opportunities to contribute.
Homewards has a five-year program that aims to demonstrate that homelessness can be made “rare, brief and unrepeated.” Alongside the new approach, Homewards is raising awareness of the breadth and complexities of homelessness through national campaigns and local storytelling with help from those with lived experience.
While in Northern Ireland, Princess Kate and Prince William are expected to meet several other community groups related to Homewards. The couple last visited Northern Ireland in October 2025, and today’s outing marks their seventh joint visit to Northern Ireland.
Prince William marked the third anniversary of his initiative Homewards in June.
“Homewards is already proving that preventing homelessness is possible,” William said in a speech at the time. “Three years ago, just a few miles from here, we set out to answer a simple question: can we show that homelessness can be prevented?”
“Today, we are beginning to see the answer. Yes. For too long, homelessness has been seen as a problem to manage [but] we are seeing measurable signs of change,” he added.
It’s been a busy start to the month for the Prince of Wales. Earlier this week, he reunited with rugby star Kevin Sinfield to present him with a knighthood.
A day prior, William visited Ilminster, Somerset, to help launch a new initiative that will help UK residents to be better prepared for natural disasters.
He and Kate last stepped out together at Headingley Rugby Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 28, where they learned how the Leeds Rhinos and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation are using the power of sport to improve health, education, inclusion and well-being in the community.
Tags: Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Louis, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan, Lilibet
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