Prince William and Kate impress on Belfast visit

Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton have been praised as a "lovely and down to earth" couple.

The pair - who will marry in Westminster Abbey on April 29 - made a surprise visit to Belfast in Northern Ireland yesterday (08.03.11) where they thrilled onlookers by tossing pancakes with schoolchildren for Shrove Tuesday.

After meeting the couple at Youth Action NI training centre, student Laura Marley told the Daily Mirror: "Prince William and Kate were lovely and down to earth, just normal people. My expectation was that they wouldn't ask questions, but would be just nodding their heads, but they were taking in everything that we were saying. They were very, very friendly."

Prince William then presented a number of students with graduating certificates.

Kate also met six-year-old Katie-Jean Cherry - who sent the couple a card when they announced their engagement last year - and thanked her for her well wishes.

Katie-Jean said: "I never thought I would meet a real princess. I think she is very pretty. She thanked me for the card."

Her mother, Toni, added: "She loves Kate and William. We will have a little party on the wedding day. She is saving her pocket money for one of the wee royal mugs."