The Princess of Wales chose a mix of pieces for engagements today in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The Baron and Baroness of Carrickfergus, as they are titled in Northern Ireland, were in Belfast for engagements tied to Prince William’s Homewards initiative, a five-year program designed to “make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated.” The Telegraph’s coverage offers background.
The Princess of Wales has backed her husband’s initiative to end homelessness in a surprise joint trip to Belfast. Catherine and William championed the Prince’s Homewards project together for the first time with a handful of engagements in the Northern Ireland capital on Friday.
The Prince, who was inspired by the “heartbreaking” visits to homeless shelters he made with his late mother Diana, has previously said he hoped the five-year programme would “inspire belief throughout the UK and beyond that homelessness can be ended for good”.
Belfast is one of the six locations in which the Homewards initiative is being trialled, along with Newport, Lambeth, Aberdeen, Sheffield, and the three neighbouring Dorset towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.
Their first stop was The Commons, a historic church turned into a self-sustaining community center.
A Kensington Palace news release notes The Commons is “centered on creativity, care, connection and belonging. From cultural events and shared meals to everyday community activities, The Commons demonstrates how shared spaces can help people build relationships, develop confidence and strengthen their connection to their community.” 
Below, the Princess speaks with Pauline McGourann of the ‘Sew-Cial Circle,’ a craft and social group for those interested in crochet, knitting, and sewing that meets at the former church every month.
This Daily Mail piece provides details.
Volunteer Pauline McGouran said the princess chatted enthusiastically about the importance of crafts in bringing people together and bettering mental health. ‘She was just lovely, incredibly charming and interested. And we all said no one of us could have carried off a skirt like that!’ she said afterwards.
A senior royal aide said the princess has been keen for some time to see the work of Homewards as it tied in with her own early years work to better the lives of under-fives.
‘The issue of social and emotional development in young children directly links to issues such as homelessness so she has been really keen to come and see its work and take this back to her own Centre for Early Childhood,’ they said.
The couple met with David and Jill Hines, the Commons directors, and toured the facility. 
We learn more via Belfast Live’s coverage.
The prince and princess met with the chairs of the New Employment Opportunities Network (Neon), an initiative launched by the Royal Foundation under William’s Homewards programme, which aims to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.
Neon aims to bring together businesses with the community and voluntary sector to prevent homelessness by supporting employment.
The Prince and Princess.
After wrapping up their visit to The Commons, the couple did a walkabout. 
The earlier rain stopped, and the sun peeked out. 
The Belfast Telegraph has details.
The Prince and Princess of Wales met hundreds of royal fans in south Belfast today as part of a surprise visit to Northern Ireland. Crowds who gathered waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple were given an even bigger surprise as they walked across the road to shake hands and say hello.
The Prince also delighted the mum of one royal well-wisher. Speaking to the woman named Angela through her daughter’s phone on FaceTime, William told her that they were missing her. “We’re missing you here Angela, it’s not the same without you,” he said.
Here’s the Princess with 3-year-old Bobby Corrigan. 
We return to The Daily Mail’s article.
Catherine also gently stoked the head of a seven-month-old baby. ‘They are wrapping you up warm,’ she smiled.
She beamed as one lady told her: ‘Thank you for coming to Northern Ireland.’
Catherine chatted with a group of schoolchildren about her own youngsters too, telling them how Prince George had just started a new school.
As she admitted another little boy’s squishy toy, he asked her what her children were called. ‘Thank you for asking,’ Catherine said. ‘I have George and Charlotte and the little one is called Louis.’
Here she is with the little 7-month-old referenced in the Mail’s story. 
The Belfast Telegraph shared a video from the Commons visit and walkabout.
The duo then visited the Belfast IKEA store. 
Below, with Store Manager Michaela Quinlan (left) and Operations Manager Ian Magill (right). 
People magazine reports that IKEA “has recruited young people locally through NEON with support from Homewards partner, Hays’ Project Flourish in partnership with EveryYouth.”
We get details on the engagement from The Telegraph’s piece by India McTaggart.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have surprised shoppers at Ikea in Belfast as they went behind the tills at the store’s cafe to serve customers.
During a flying visit to Northern Ireland to champion Prince William’s Homewards initiative on Friday, the couple chatted with shoppers as they checked out the furniture shop’s cafe.
Seamus McBrearty, the Ikea food manager, showed the heir to the throne how to work the cashier, and said afterwards: “It was good fun, I think he enjoyed it.”
The Princess behind a cash register with Sophie, an IKEA employee.
We return to The Telegraph’s story.
Speaking to one customer, the Princess asked: “Have you got a family card? Oh, you do!” She then handed their receipt to Ayla, a seven-year-old, who was being treated to chocolate by her grandmothers, Lorraine Magill and Margaret Broom.
Mrs Magill remarked that the Princess had “no problem” working the till, adding: “I didn’t expect it whatsoever, but it was lovely and she was really nice.”
The Princess looked like she was enjoying the experience. 
Prince William with local schoolgirls buying candy at the store. 
A video via social media.
We now turn to what Kate wore for today’s engagements. 
The Princess brought back her bespoke Catherine Walker coat. It was first noted when the Prince and Princess viewed floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, then seen again in March 2023 for a visit to a Muslim Center. 
We saw the Princess sporting a new Emilia Wickstead skirt, the brand’s ‘Kensie” Skirt ($2058; it now appears sold out) in Military Green Shetland Tartan. Made in the UK, the skirt is a wool/polyacrylic blend in a pleated, A-line silhouette. The pattern is described as having a “sculpted structure and heritage-inspired fabric. Crafted from a slightly heavier Shetland wool, the skirt holds its shape beautifully while offering a refined drape.” Thank you to Laura for this ID. 
The Princess brought back her Cascade Ruffle Blouse ($595) in 100% sandwashed silk satin by Knatchbull. The blouse was first worn in May 2025 at the British Fashion Council awards, seen again at a September rugby match, and worn again last November. 
The Princess was in a new pair of heels that look like they could be the ‘Gianvito 85’ Black Leather Pumps ($850), a staple in Gianvito Rossi collections and in the Princess’s shoe closet.
She carried her Mulberry ‘Amberley’ Small Top-Handle Bag ($1195) in ‘Mulberry Green.’
The Princess had her hair partially pulled back. 
Making it easier to see her Cartier Trinity Earrings.
And one more photo of the Princess today. 
