Prince William and Kate Middleton on surprise Northern Ireland trip

Mar 8, 2011, 10:59 GMT

Britain\'s Prince William and his bride tobe Kate Middleton (R) arrives at Belfast\'s City Hall, Northern Ireland, 08 March 2011. Prince William and Kate Middleton are due to get married in London, Britain on 29 April 2011. EPA/PAUL MCERLANE

London - Prince William and his future bride Kate Middleton made a surprise visit to Northern Ireland amid top security Tuesday as part of a tour of Britain ahead of their April 29 wedding.

The couple, both 29, arrived in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, for an unannounced trip. Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain, has a long history of sectarian strife which has been largely laid to rest with the 1998 Peace Agreement.

However, remnants of the former Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorist group remain active in their campaign to end British rule in Northern Ireland.

In March 2009, the Real IRA, a dissident splinter group, claimed responsibility for the murder of two soldiers outside British army barracks near Antrim, in County Antrim, north of Belfast.

In April, 2010, the same group said it planted a massive car bomb at barracks in Hollywood, County Down, which served as the headquarters of Britain's domestic intelligence service, MI5. One person was injured in that attack, but there were no fatalities.

Middleton, who wore a beige, double-breasted coat with a ruffled hem, gave a broad smile to well-wishers as the couple were received at Belfast City Hall.

The couple visited Wales and Scotland last month.

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